Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with Jimmy Samartzis, Chief Executive Officer of the American company LanzaJet, and Stéphane Tzion, Vice President for Commercial Affairs, to discuss the development of industrial and technological partnerships.
The sides reviewed prospects for localizing advanced technologies to implement a joint project on the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In particular, they discussed plans to build a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant in the city of Rudny, Kostanay Region.
LanzaJet is the developer of a technology for producing SAF from ethanol derived from various raw materials, including organic feedstock such as grain, corn, and potatoes. The future plant’s capacity is expected to reach 54,000 tons of aviation fuel and up to 100,000 tons of processed bioethanol per year. The feasibility study (FS) for the plant has already been completed.
The project aims to promote green aviation and deepen processing in the agro-industrial complex. The production of biofuel will also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with Kazakhstan’s key climate and energy policy priorities.
“President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set us the task of creating an international air hub in Kazakhstan. In addition to expanding airport capacities and developing infrastructure, it is essential to ensure the industry is supplied with high-quality, eco-friendly aviation fuel. We are ready to expand cooperation. The Government will provide comprehensive support for this project,” Olzhas Bektenov emphasized.
Meeting participants discussed the project’s main directions in detail. The LanzaJet leadership proposed establishing an integrated structure for joint project implementation.
For reference: LanzaJet was founded by the leading U.S. bioengineering company LanzaTech, headquartered in Chicago. Along with LanzaTech, the company’s major investors include International Airlines Group, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Shell, Suncor Energy, British Airways, Microsoft, Breakthrough Energy, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Airbus, Groupe ADP, and others. LanzaJet has long-term offtake agreements with the world’s largest airlines.
