Gazprom Neft has completed laboratory and bench testing of Russia’s first domestically produced sustainable aviation fuel, including trials on a jet engine test stand, the company announced February 4. The testing program simulated takeoff, cruise flight, and landing approach scenarios for the fuel made from processed used cooking oil, though the company has not released detailed performance data or emissions measurements from the tests.
According to Gazprom Neft, the engine operated effectively during the test protocol and the fuel demonstrated reduced environmental impact compared to conventional jet fuel. The company stated that results from the testing will be used to develop a national standard for synthetic SAF components in aviation fuels, but provided no timeline for when such standards might be adopted or what regulatory approvals remain necessary before the fuel could be used in commercial flights.
“The global challenge of reducing greenhouse gases is an important guideline for us in implementing the biocomponent production project for motor fuels,” said Kristina Ten, general director of Ecoway, Gazprom Neft’s partner in sourcing renewable feedstocks. The company has been working with Ecowayand the fast-food chain Vkusno i Tochka (rebranded McDonald’s in Russia), which supplies approximately 6,000 tons annually of used frying oil for conversion into biocomponents.
The February testing represents progress from Gazprom Neft’s September 2025 announcement that it had produced its first batch of SAF fuel at its Industrial Innovation Center in St. Petersburg. The company’s technology converts waste cooking oil and animal fats into aviation fuel components through hydrogen-assisted synthesis. Gazprom Neft has not disclosed production volumes, manufacturing costs, or how its pricing compares to conventional jet fuel, which currently costs three to five times less than sustainable aviation fuel globally.
Andrey Chikhanchin, first deputy general director of Aeroflot, noted that “active use of SAF fuel in aviation is a medium and long-term prospect, however, the international industry is already taking its first steps today.” The statement suggests commercial implementation remains years away, even as regulatory pressure increases. European Union mandates require SAF to comprise 2% of aviation fuel by 2025 and 6% by 2030, though Russia has not announced comparable domestic requirements.
The testing phase follows Gazprom Neft’s earlier entry into biofuel markets through marine fuel applications beginning in 2023. The company has not indicated when flight testing with actual aircraft might occur or what additional certifications would be required from Russian or international aviation authorities before the fuel could be approved for commercial airline use.
