ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 7. The Chairman of the Board of JSC NC KazMunayGas, Askhat Khasenov, held a meeting with Nicolas Rallo, Director of the European and North Atlantic Bureau of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and discussed issues related to Kazakhstan's transition to the international aviation fuel standard Jet A-1 and the modernization of the corresponding infrastructure, Trend reports.
Khasenov mentioned that KazMunayGas’ oil refineries are technically ready to produce Jet A-1 aviation fuel. However, the widespread implementation of this fuel requires additional infrastructure preparation at domestic airports.
"In this regard, KazMunayGas, through its subsidiary KazMunayGas-Aero, has initiated several investment projects aimed at building and modernizing fuel infrastructure at airports across the country. This is necessary to ensure the storage capacity for both traditional aviation fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). I am confident that cooperation with ICAO will accelerate certification processes and compliance with international standards," said Khasenov.
The projects also include the purchase of the latest airport fuel tankers. The total investment volume is estimated at 15 billion tenge ($30 million).
Moreover, the implementation progress of a project for constructing a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production plant in Kazakhstan was reviewed. The project, which is being implemented jointly with companies LanzaJet and BioOperations, is currently in the technical and economic feasibility study stage.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that Kazakhstan's transition to Jet A-1 is a prerequisite for the use of SAF.
“We expect that the implementation of this project will enable Kazakhstan to take a leading position in SAF production in the region, which will undoubtedly also contribute to improving the environmental performance of the aviation sector and the development of our country’s transit potential, in line with the instruction of President Tokayev,” emphasized Khasenov.
Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to strengthen efforts in all key areas.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for setting international civil aviation standards and coordinating its development to enhance safety and efficiency. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a separate organization and should not be confused with ICAO.