During New York Climate Week, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology and production company LanzaJet and Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company, KazMunayGas (KMG), announced a key milestone in the country’s first SAF initiative.
The two companies confirmed the project will move into the engineering and design (FEED) phase following the completion of a joint feasibility study.
Launched in 2020 by carbon recycling technology company LanzaTech, Illinois-based LanzaJet has developed “Alcohol-to-Jet” technology enabling the creation of SAF and renewable diesel from waste-based and sustainable ethanol sources including feedstocks such as low-carbon sugarcane, energy crops, forest residuals, agricultural wastes, and organic waste.
Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, said:
“Kazakhstan is the type of market that creates incredible potential across industries – agriculture, logistics, oil and gas and aviation. Our collaboration at LanzaJet with KMG sets in motion regional leadership to advance lower carbon flight and decarbonization of aviation, economic development for the country, and energy security for the region.”
The agreement with KMG was formalized during New York Climate Week, where Samartzis addressed an audience that included Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and KMG Chairman and CEO Askhat Khassenov. The collaboration marks LanzaJet’s first deployment of its patented Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology in the region.
The FEED stage will focus on finalizing the technical and economic solutions required to build the facility and laying the groundwork for construction. Work is expected to begin immediately, with the project positioned to support Kazakhstan’s anticipated SAF demand, which is projected to reach 70,000 tonnes per year by 2030.
Khassenov said:
“This collaboration represents a significant contribution to strengthening bilateral cooperation and will support our low-carbon development goals and the deployment of cutting-edge technologies. Overall, the project will positively impact the development of the biofuels market, improve the environmental performance of the aviation sector, and enhance Kazakhstan’s transit potential.”
The announcement follows a string of investments in LanzaJet, including by Tokyo-based banking group MUFG, airport operator Groupe ADP, Microsoft and Southwest Airlines. Additional investors in the company include All Nippon Airways, Breakthrough Energy, British Airways, LanzaTech, Mitsui & Co., Shell and Suncor Energy.
