VEMA, NavoiyAzot, LanzaTech and LanzaJet sign MoU to develop ethanol and SAF production project

VEMA, NavoiyAzot, LanzaTech and LanzaJet have signed an agreement to jointly develop Uzbekistan’s first integrated high-tech complex for the co-production of ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The project will be executed in two stages: first, converting off-gases into ethanol, followed by upgrading that ethanol into SAF, with an expected output of approximately 80,000 tons per year.

The project is aimed at supporting Uzbekistan’s strategy for decarbonisation, industrial modernization and the development of clean technologies, while also responding to the rapidly growing global demand for SAF - a key enabler of decarbonisation in the international aviation sector.

Together, the companies are forming a unique alliance that integrates advanced technologies, industrial capacity, and international expertise to create a new hub for sustainable solutions in Uzbekistan.

Vitalii Negoduiko, project office director at VEMA, said: “This project marks a significant milestone in the development of low-carbon industry not only in Uzbekistan but also globally. We are combining international technologies with local potential to create a multi-pathway SAF cluster in Central Asia. I am truly pleased to coordinate this partnership, which will deliver real change for regional energy systems and global aviation.”

Jim Woodger, managing director, EMEA and Americas at LanzaTech, said: “Industrial emissions can be a valuable resource rather than waste. Our collaboration with NavoiAzot, VEMA, and LanzaJet enables the application of LanzaTech’s technology to create circular solutions and produce ethanol from carbon-rich gases, which can then be converted into SAF. We see tremendous potential for Uzbekistan to develop innovative low-carbon industries.”

Jimmy Samartzis, chief executive officer LanzaJet, added: “Uzbekistan has all the fundamentals to become a new strategic centre for SAF production in Eurasia. LanzaJet is proud to support this initiative by providing technology and expertise to ensure the production of fuel that meets the highest international standards of aviation safety and sustainability.”