en.Wedoany.com Reported - On June 24, Sinopec Engineering Group signed a contract with the Uzbekistan Joint Biofuel Company in Tashkent to build a biofuel plant using agricultural and forestry waste and photovoltaic green electricity as raw materials, with the main product being Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The total investment in the project is approximately $6.1 billion, making it the first large-scale full-industry-chain bio-aviation fuel complex in Central Asia, integrating biomass raw material processing, green hydrogen production, SAF, electro-synthetic aviation fuel (e-SAF), and green diesel production, supported by photovoltaic, green hydrogen, and energy storage facilities.
The project is located in the Navoi Free Economic Zone, where the region generates approximately 5 million tons of agricultural and forestry waste annually (including over 3.2 million tons of cotton stalks), ensuring ample and low-cost raw material supply. According to disclosures, Sinopec Engineering Group's Ningbo Engineering Company is responsible for the refinery's front-end engineering design, detailed engineering, system integration, and renewable energy interface work. The project is planned to advance from the FEED stage to EPC turnkey contracting. Once completed, it can not only supply local airlines but also export to the European market via the Tashkent aviation hub. The European Union's ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation mandates that from 2025, aviation fuel refueled at EU airports must contain a mandatory 2% blend of SAF, increasing to 6% by 2030 and 70% by 2050, providing clear demand for SAF exports.
According to IATA data, global SAF production in 2025 is approximately 1.9 million tons, accounting for only 0.6% of aviation fuel consumption, while demand is projected to reach 18 million tons by 2030. Sinopec's Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company has built China's first 100,000-ton HEFA bio-aviation fuel unit, which has obtained airworthiness certification and dual international sustainability certifications. This signing represents a significant move by Sinopec Engineering Group in the green liquid fuel sector. By undertaking this project, Sinopec Engineering Group will accumulate engineering experience in biomass raw material processing, green hydrogen coupling, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and international carbon footprint certification, providing a practical platform for building green refining engineering capabilities. The traditional refining EPC market is facing structural contraction, while the green liquid fuel engineering market is expanding. This signing by Sinopec Engineering Group is a concrete manifestation of its transfer of engineering capabilities to the emerging green sector.
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