Canada-headed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project developer Azure Sustainable Fuels Corp. has disclosed details regarding its planned development of an SAF production facility in Cherryvale, Kansas (KS) in the United States (US).
Azure is a privately held corporation solely focused on developing SAF-focused renewable fuels production facilities, which are required to meet current domestic and international mandates related to the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated by the aviation sector
Since June 2023, Azure has been progressing with a Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study at Cherryvale, which is on track for completion in 2024, and targeting a Final Investment Decision (FID) by early 2025 – if approved, the Company is targeting to reach first production in 2027.
The facility would use commercially proven technology, allowing for efficiency in speed to market and future expansion. Once fully operational, the Cherryvale facility will produce approximately 135 million (US) gallons (≈ 511 million litres) per year of renewable fuels, primarily SAF.
There will be significant job creation throughout the construction and during operations of the facility.
Approximately 1,500 workers will be required through construction, and operations will require approximately 150 full-time positions. Azure is dedicated to supporting the local economy and prioritizing local sourcing, where feasible.
Azure has also received significant support from the local government. On December 18, the Montgomery County Commission approved various tax incentives to help support the project.
These incentives include a 10-year property tax exemption and an exemption on sales tax on construction materials and labor.
We are pleased to have the opportunity to bring this project to Kansas. Our project combines advancements from the aviation sector with the strength of the agricultural community while relying on the skills and expertise of the oil and gas industry. We believe that our project would help to enhance Kansas’ rich aviation history and create a significant number of new construction and high-quality operations jobs. A project of this scale would not be possible without the support of local authorities, including the Montgomery County Commission, said Douglas Cole, CEO of Azure.
Azure’s goal of producing SAF with the lowest emissions is further supported through an executed letter of intent with CapturePoint Solutions LLC, a Texas-based company providing carbon capture, transport, and permanent sequestration solutions, to explore the opportunity to tie into its existing and operating CO2 sequestration network and infrastructure.
