Almaty Airport completes first refueling with Jet A-1 aviation fuel

Photo: Almaty Airport

On June 25, KazMunayGas-Aero conducted the first refueling of an aircraft with international standard Jet A-1 fuel at Almaty International Airport. Previously, only TS-1 and RT grades of aviation kerosene were used there.

Uzbekistan Airways became the first carrier to utilize the new fuel. The Jet A-1 was supplied by PetroChina from the Dushanzi Refinery in China with the assistance of a Kazakhstani logistics operator, airport officials reported.

According to KazMunayGas-Aero, diversifying jet fuel supply sources amid growing transit air traffic will enhance the sustainability of the aviation fuel supply system, create additional opportunities for international carriers, ensure supply chain flexibility, and strengthen Kazakhstan’s energy security.

Jet A-1 fuel can be used to refuel most modern commercial airliners alongside TS-1, which is produced in Kazakhstan under the Eurasian Economic Union’s Customs Union standard. Both types of fuel are permitted to be mixed short-term in aircraft fuel tanks, but they must be stored separately during long-term storage.

Currently, Kazakhstan produces only TS-1 aviation fuel. However, since 2018, KazMunayGas’s refineries—the Atyrau Refinery, the Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant, and the Shymkent Refinery—have successfully undergone modernization to enable Jet A-1 production.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Kazakhstan boosts cargo aircraft refueling amid global jet fuel shortage.