A memorandum was signed in Tashkent between Uzbekistan Airports and Allied Biofuels for the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and electro-synthetic fuel (e-SAF) supplies. The parties plan to begin deliveries of environmentally friendly fuel by 2030.
The agreement is seen as one of the steps towards establishing Uzbekistan as a regional center for "green" aviation and low-carbon transport infrastructure. The project aligns with the international agenda for decarbonizing the aviation industry and implementing environmentally friendly technologies in Central Asian air travel.
As part of the cooperation, a large biofuel complex is planned for construction in the country. Once fully operational, it will produce approximately 160.4 thousand tons of SAF, 257 thousand tons of e-SAF, and over 5 thousand tons of green diesel annually. The total project cost is estimated at $6.1 billion, with energy supply provided by 4.45 GW of renewable sources and 1600 MWh of energy storage systems.
Electrolyzers with a total capacity of 2.4 GW will be used for green hydrogen production, with Plug Power acting as the technology partner. The country's authorities believe that the project will attract investments, accelerate the development of the sustainable aviation fuel market, and strengthen the region's position in the global transition to low-carbon aviation.