Uzbekistan Airports and Allied Biofuels LLC have entered into a memorandum of understanding aimed at establishing a substantial supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and electro-synthetic SAF (e-SAF) within Uzbekistan. This initiative aligns with Uzbekistan’s goal to position itself as a regional hub for low-carbon and sustainable aviation transportation, with plans to commence supply chains in 2030.
Allied Biofuels is building Central Asia’s first large-scale biorefinery that, upon completion, is expected to produce approximately 160,400 tonnes of SAF, 257,000 tonnes of e-SAF, and 5,040 tonnes of green diesel annually. The project, valued at roughly $6.1 billion, will operate utilizing a 4.45-gigawatt renewable energy system, supported by battery storage and green hydrogen infrastructure, with electrolyzers supplied by U.S.-based Plug Power.
Javlonbek Umakhodjaev, chairman of Uzbekistan Airports JSC, emphasized that the partnership is a significant step toward modernizing Uzbekistan’s aviation industry and exploring sustainable fuel alternatives. Alfred Benedict, general director of Allied Biofuels, called the project a milestone that could aid the development of cleaner air transport across Central Asia. The initiative has received backing from the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and the Investment Promotion Agency of Uzbekistan.
The announcement follows an earlier report by The Times of Central Asia in April, where Uzbekistan signed a binding agreement in Perth, Australia, for the same biofuel project with Khorezm regional authorities and Allied Biofuels.
