Aviation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production in Kazakhstan

On June 20, Chairman of the Board of Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) Askhat Khasenov attended a meeting with the management of the American company LanzaJet and the Japanese investment company Mitsui to discuss the production of SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) in Kazakhstan. SAF is an environmentally-friendly version of Jet-1 fuel that reduces carbon emissions by 80%. According to KMG, a preliminary feasibility study for the possible construction of a SAF production facility in Kazakhstan has already been completed by KMG and Air Astana with financial assistance from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The next stage is developing a feasibility study for the actual implementation of the project. Air Astana is currently exploring the use of SAF by its air fleet. Regarding the concept of low-carbon development, the share of SAF consumption by the airline company will gradually increase to 5% by 2040, 15% by 2050, and 25% by 2060. Three large oil refineries owned by KazMunayGas are ready to produce Jet A-1 aviation fuel, which could be mixed with SAF in the future. LanzaJet recently opened LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels in the US, the world's first SAF production facility, with plans to produce 1 billion gallons of SAF by 2030.

Economy Aviation

Kazakhstan Becomes First CIS country to Join ICAO Program on Environmentally-Friendly Aviation Fuel

Kazakhstan has become the first CIS nation to sign an agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and join the program in the field of environmentally-friendly aviation fuel (ACT-SAF). "ICAO has set a goal of achieving net zero emissions from international flights by 2050. To achieve this goal, during the visit to Kazakhstan of the Regional Director of the European/North Atlantic Bureau of ICAO, Nicolas Rallo, an agreement was signed between Kazakhstan and ICAO on the accession of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Program for Capacity Building Support and Training in the Field of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ACT-SAF)," reported the press service of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan. According to this document, ICAO will assist Kazakhstan in developing and participating in ACT-SAF program activities, including the exchange of best practices and relevant information, participation in training seminars and workshops, technical assistance in issues related to SAF in national action plans, and the implementation of specific projects on SAF. As previously reported, the use of SAF reduces CO2 emissions by 80% compared to the use of conventional fuel. However, in 2024, the availability of clean jet fuel is expected to account for no more than 1% of total global demand. As a transit state between Europe and Asia, Kazakhstan could play a greater role in expanding the use of SAF in international flights. As a raw materials base for SAF production, bio-ethanol, municipal solid waste, and in the future, blast furnace and coke gases are being considered in Kazakhstan. The project for the creation of the Regional Hub of Clean Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Almaty will be presented by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on June 21 in Astana during the forum, Central Asia - Silk Road in the Sky, by ISF, an international consulting company which won the EBRD tender to become the project consultant.

Air Transport Aviation Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan: Plane with 100 people on board crashes, at least 12 killed

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (TCA) — A Kazakhstan-based Bek Air plane with 95 passengers and five crew on board crashed early on December 27 after takeoff near the Almaty airport, RFE/RL reports. Continue reading

Air Transport Aviation Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan’s airline company resumes flights to UK, Germany

ASHGABAT (TCA) — Turkmenistan's flag carrier resumes regular passenger flights to Europe. Flights to Birmingham (UK) and Frankfurt (Germany) have been included in the timetable of Turkmenistan Air Company. Regular flights (once a week) are starting this week, state-run Newspaper Golden Age reported. Continue reading

Nuclear Tajikistan Aviation

Tajikistan: US donates radiation detection equipment to Dushanbe airport

DUSHANBE (TCA) — On October 22, the Charge d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the donation of radiation detection equipment to the Dushanbe International Airport. This equipment was donated by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD) in partnership with the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency of Tajikistan. Continue reading

Turkmenistan Aviation Air Transport

Turkmenistan Airlines reauthorized to resume EU operations

ASHGABAT (TCA) — As a result of the joint project with Lufthansa Consulting since February this year, Turkmenistan Airlines, Turkmenistan's flag carrier, has confirmed compliance with technical requirements related to air operations of Third Country Operators in the European Union (EU). After the on-site audit by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Ashgabat at the end of September, the Agency reauthorized the airline as Third Country Operator on 11 October 2019, Lufthansa Consulting GmbH said in a press release on October 16. The Turkmen carrier has been committed to raising its performance and took immediate action following the difficulties in satisfying relevant requirements in context with the EU Safety Authorizations for foreign air operators at the beginning of this year. The project started with an assessment of the situation and the development of the recovery plan. In the course of the assignment experts of Lufthansa Consulting and a dedicated team from Turkmenistan Airlines specialized in quality, safety, flight operations and maintenance worked together on both the management system changes and the practical implementation. The team from Turkmenistan Airlines, supported by the management, demonstrated high flexibility during the implementation and commitment to change, Lufthansa Consulting said. Turkmenistan Airlines is the flag carrier of Turkmenistan with headquarters in the country's capital Ashgabat. The airline operates domestic and international passenger and cargo services mainly from its hub at Ashgabat International Airport. The airline transports more than 5,000 passengers daily within the country and nearly three million passengers annually on the international and domestic routes. The fleet consists of modern Western aircraft (such as Boeing 737, 757, 777) and a cargo fleet of IL 76.