Kazakhstan's Business Jet Fuel (BJF) has signed a strategic partnership with ENOC Group, an energy group wholly owned by the Government of Dubai.
Under the agreement, the companies will jointly supply airlines with fuel at agreed airports, including fuel storage and aircraft refuelling. The partnership combines ENOC's international customer network with BJF's infrastructure and operational capabilities. ENOC's aviation customers include Emirates, Saudia, IndiGo, Air India and EgyptAir.
The stated goals are to develop ENOC's international aviation business, make fuel supply more reliable and widen airlines' access to aviation fuel supply infrastructure.
ENOC Group's Group CEO said the partnership extends the company's geographic reach and service quality, and combines ENOC's commercial strength and customer relationships with BJF's local supply expertise. BJF's director called the agreement an important step into the international aviation fuel market: it opens access to a wider airline network and gives Kazakh airlines access to international fuel markets. He also tied the partnership to strengthening Kazakhstan's position as a fuel supply hub between Asia and Europe.
BJF is an operating fuel operator at airports in Kazakhstan: it supplies aviation fuel and refuels aircraft. It has built aviation fuel storage infrastructure at Karaganda airport. ENOC Group is an integrated energy group operating in exploration and production, supply, terminal infrastructure, retail fuel, aviation fuel and petroleum products for commercial and industrial customers. It serves thousands of customers in more than 60 markets and employs more than 12,500 people.
Kazakhstan's aviation fuel market has seen several separate projects in recent weeks. On 30 October, KazMunayGas, KazMunayGas-Aero and Exolum Aviation signed a strategic cooperation agreement on refuelling complexes and storage: https://www.flycentralasia.com/news/en/kazmunaygas-exolum-aviation-jet-a1-refuelling-storage-airports-kazakhstan-strategic-cooperation-terms/
On 5 November, a company called JanaPort Jet announced plans to enter the market: https://www.flycentralasia.com/news/en/kazakhstan-jet-fuel-supplier-janaport-jet-founders-refuelling-network/
In October, KazMunayGas-Aero refuelled a National Airlines Boeing 747-400F cargo aircraft at Aktobe for the first time; the agreement covers six airports in Kazakhstan: https://www.flycentralasia.com/news/en/national-airlines-cargo-fuel-deal-kazakhstan-aktobe-turkistan/
Our assessment: the partnership links a Kazakh operator to ENOC's international customer network, but the practical effect will show in which airports and for which airlines joint supply begins. For airlines that use Kazakhstan's airports as refuelling points, and for the airports themselves, an additional player in the fuel market means more choice. This is the view of flycentralasia.