KMG, BioOperations pen agreement for SAF project

Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas (KMG) signed an agreement with BioOperations for the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project in the country.

The agreement was signed by KazMunayGas-Aero (a subsidiary of KazMunayGas) and BioOperations on 8 November in Almaty on the sidelines of ICAO regional seminar Green Airports.

Earlier, KMG said that the international consulting company ICF recommended the Kazakh side to start production of SAF using ATJ (Alcohol-to-Jet) technology, given the availability of raw materials – bioethanol produced by BioOperations LLP.

BioOperations plant, located in Taiynsha, North Kazakhstan region, is the flagship of deep grain processing in the region ensuring the availability of raw material base. The company said its convenient location along major roads and railways makes it suitable from a feedstock sourcing point of view.

Bioethanol produced by BioOperations is derived from plant raw materials and exported to EU countries and the UK.

The Taiynsha plant uses various types of grain to produce bioethanol. It also processes by-products of deep grain processing, such as gluten and starch.

Earlier, Technology and engineering company NextChem announced it has signed an agreement with KazMunayGas-Aero – division of Kazakhstan’s state-owned oil and gas company KazMunayGas – to explore production of SAF and low-carbon hydrogen through CO2 capture.