MAIRE has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna and the Italo-Kazakh Trade Association, ACIK, to explore the development of a sustainable aviation fuel platform in Kazakhstan. The agreement, announced on 24 June 2026 and reported by Biofuels Central, brings together Nextchem’s technology portfolio and expertise with MAIRE’s project execution capabilities.
The proposed collaboration will assess whether SAF production is feasible using feedstocks available in Kazakhstan for the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids, or HEFA, pathway. According to the announcement carried by Biofuels Central, the initiative is intended to support Kazakhstan’s ambition to become a regional SAF hub. The source does not identify specific feedstock types, available volumes or a proposed production capacity.
Under the memorandum, the partners will examine infrastructure options, engage with stakeholders and work on an appropriate investment framework. That framework could potentially be established within the Astana International Financial Centre, although the announcement does not present this as a settled arrangement. These activities form part of the feasibility work outlined in the agreement, rather than an announced commitment to build a production facility.
Nextchem’s role will include identifying and developing the relevant technology pathways, as well as assessing technical, commercial and financial viability. Its contribution sits alongside the wider MAIRE group’s execution capabilities, which the parties intend to draw on in developing the proposed platform. No investment value, construction timetable or start-up date is given in the report.
The announcement highlights Kazakhstan’s position on major routes between Europe and Asia as a potential advantage for establishing SAF supply chains. It presents that location as an opportunity to link industrial development with longer-term market demand. The agreement’s immediate scope remains the evaluation of production, infrastructure and financing options needed to advance the country’s regional SAF ambitions.