Kazakhstan Partners with LanzaJet on Kostanay SAF Plant Using ATJ

(RUDNY, KOSTANAY REGION, KAZAKHSTAN) Kazakhstan moved to anchor sustainable fuel production in Central Asia on Sept. 23, 2025, when American company LanzaJet and state energy giant KazMunayGas advanced plans to build the country’s first large-scale plant for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the Kostanay region. The agreement, signed in Rudny by LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis and KazMunayGas Chairman Askhat Khasenov after a joint feasibility study, launches the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase. This critical phase finalizes the technical and economic blueprint before construction.

The project is designed to produce 54,000 tonnes of SAF each year and process up to 100,000 tonnes of bioethanol annually, positioning Kazakhstan to meet rising domestic demand while opening a path toward regional exports.

Technology, partners, and feedstock integration

The partners said the plant will use LanzaJet’s proprietary Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology, which converts renewable ethanol into low-carbon jet fuel. This marks LanzaJet’s first ATJ deployment in Central Asia and reflects:

• Kazakhstan’s growing bioethanol base
• The ability to integrate new fuel output with existing refining assets
• A supply model tied to local feedstock and infrastructure

The collaboration involves:
– LanzaJet
– KazMunayGas-Aero (a KazMunayGas subsidiary)
– KazFoodProducts

Together they plan to tie production to local bioethanol supplies and refinery infrastructure, aiming to bring advanced fuel technology into Kazakhstan’s energy sector with concrete output goals and a delivery schedule that begins immediately with FEED.

Government support and strategic context

Government backing has helped push the project forward. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy supports the initiative and is working to expand overall aviation fuel capacity to 1.7 million tonnes by 2032, including readiness to produce Jet A-1 domestically.

This fits with national goals to:
– Decarbonize the aviation sector
– Strengthen energy security
– Boost industrial growth tied to cleaner fuels

The ministry’s stance suggests the SAF plant could plug into a larger strategy balancing national fuel needs with climate commitments. For official policy information and updates, see the Ministry’s portal at the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Demand outlook and potential impact

While SAF production is new to Kazakhstan, the local case for supply is growing. Project information estimates Kazakhstan’s SAF demand at 70,000 tonnes per year by 2030. The Rudny plant’s planned 54,000 tonnes of annual output would cover the majority of that demand from a single facility.

Potential benefits include:
– Reducing reliance on imports
– Helping airlines meet international decarbonization targets
– Providing a test bed for scaling ATJ in a resource-rich, transport-focused country

LanzaJet, headquartered in the United States 🇺🇸, has promoted ATJ as a way to scale renewable jet fuel by leveraging established ethanol markets. Bringing that model to the Kostanay region aims to make Kazakhstan a hub for sustainable fuels and air transit.

FEED phase: what it means and next steps

The September agreement closed a study phase and moved the project into detailed planning for:
– Construction layout
– Utility needs
– Procurement strategies
– Financing scope

Although no construction start date was published, the partners emphasized that FEED begins immediately to speed final investment decisions. In practice, FEED determines:
– Plant layout and unit operations
– Safety systems and emissions controls
– Logistics and supply-chain baselines
– Capital and operating cost estimates

For Kazakhstan’s first SAF facility, this granularity matters—especially for bioethanol sourcing and any future expansion should market demand grow beyond 2030 estimates.

Location advantages and regional development

Industry watchers say Rudny was chosen for practical reasons:
– Access to feedstock (bioethanol)
– Rail links across northern Kazakhstan
– Proximity to airports served by carriers with strict emissions reporting and sustainability targets

Regional and economic benefits include:
– Job creation and technical roles in the Kostanay region
– Development of export-ready industries
– A model of technology transfer paired with domestic capacity, keeping value in-country while meeting international SAF certification standards

Scale, market signals, and operations

Supporters view the project as a signal that Kazakhstan is moving beyond pilot volumes to industrial-scale output. Key project numbers for stakeholders are:

• 54,000 tonnes of SAF per year (planned output)
• 100,000 tonnes of bioethanol processed annually (capacity)
• 70,000 tonnes — Kazakhstan’s estimated SAF demand by 2030

If targets are met, outcomes could include:
– Long-term offtake contracts for airlines serving Kazakhstan
– More consistent SAF blending at key airports
– Improved supply reliability as carriers meet rising sustainability disclosures

Broader policy alignment and emissions impact

The government’s target of 1.7 million tonnes of aviation fuel by 2032 underscores the context for SAF rollout. Officials emphasize domestic readiness to supply Jet A-1, reducing external dependencies that can raise costs and cause disruptions.

Important considerations:
– SAF typically blends with conventional jet fuel rather than replacing it immediately
– Domestic SAF can lower lifecycle emissions for flights touching Kazakhstan
– Building local SAF capacity supports preparation for stricter sustainability standards in export markets
– Policy momentum around clean technologies is tied to energy security and diversification

LanzaJet’s move into Central Asia and project perception

LanzaJet’s first-of-its-kind deployment in Central Asia is a branding and strategic moment. The partnership:
– Demonstrates confidence in the ATJ pathway’s commercial readiness
– Shows willingness to partner where ethanol feedstock can be organized at scale
– Links a U.S. technology developer with national energy players to support climate and economic goals

The Kostanay region location facilitates access to local industry and cross-border transport, which supporters say is crucial to proving stable output and building buyer trust.

Workforce, procurement, and regional economic signals

The announcement attracted attention from policy and mobility observers tracking large energy investments. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, projects of this scale often trigger planning by employers and technical specialists preparing for cross-border roles in construction, commissioning, and operations.

While specific workforce plans were not released:
– Early FEED work typically signals upcoming procurement and engineering milestones
– These milestones influence hiring timelines and training priorities in the host region

Key takeaway

As FEED begins, partners emphasize the project’s role in Kazakhstan’s carbon neutrality drive and aviation decarbonization goals. They argue a domestic SAF platform will:

• Help airlines cut emissions intensity
• Support cleaner fuel blending where feasible
• Send a market signal encouraging more production over time

For stakeholders, the core facts remain:

• Planned output: 54,000 tonnes of SAF per year
• Bioethanol processing: up to 100,000 tonnes annually
• Demand outlook: 70,000 tonnes per year by 2030

With government support and the FEED launch, the Rudny project places the Kostanay region at the center of Kazakhstan’s first large step into low-carbon jet fuel, with LanzaJet’s ATJ technology as the engine intended to make it work.