Allied Biofuels FE LLC has signed a logistics cooperation agreement with the European multimodal transport operator Pro Logistic Services SIA. The goal of this partnership is to create an international export infrastructure for supplying Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and synthetic aviation fuel (e-SAF) from the production facility in Uzbekistan to key markets in Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries.
The signed document marks an important milestone in the commercial preparation of the project, as it confirms the formation of an international logistics system for future export operations. According to the terms of the agreement, Pro Logistic Services will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive multimodal transport system. This system will include specialized railway tank cars, port cargo handling, forwarding, and sea transport.
Pro Logistic Services possesses an extensive international logistics network and is among the largest operators in Eurasia. The company manages a fleet of over 4,000 railway wagons and has direct agreements with national railway authorities in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Turkmenistan, and Lithuania. The company's operational units are located in Latvia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Ukraine, Cyprus, and the United Arab Emirates, enabling complete international logistics from the point of production to the end consumer.
For supplies to the Persian Gulf countries, specialized railway tank cars will be used, departing from the Miskin railway station. The route follows the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor. It crosses Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, and passes through the ports of Poti and Batumi in Georgia, where the cargo is transferred to sea tankers for delivery via the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the Suez Canal to the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and other ports.
Exports to Europe will be carried out by rail from Miskin station to the port of Riga, which is one of Pro Logistic Services' key logistics hubs. From there, the fuel will be transported by sea to European ports, including Hamburg and other terminals.
The company noted that the location of the Allied Biofuels production complex and the existing transport network of its logistics partner provide additional advantages for the project's export strategy. The development of the logistics infrastructure will proceed parallel to engineering works, production planning, and the conclusion of long-term fuel supply contracts. This approach ensures that future production volumes will be supported by a scalable international distribution network.
Alfred Benedict, Managing Director of Allied Biofuels, stated that this partnership with Pro Logistic Services reflects the high level of preparedness of the project and its international aspirations. He emphasized that the partner's direct agreements with railway authorities, the availability of specialized rolling stock, and years of experience on major transport corridors ensure a reliable logistical base for future supplies of SAF and e-SAF to global markets.
Natalya Tsoy, a member of the Board of Directors of Pro Logistic Services, reported that the company has been involved in implementing complex international logistics projects across Eurasia for over two decades. She added that the company's transport infrastructure, specialized rolling stock, and presence along the entire export route will allow for the creation of effective links between Allied Biofuels' future production and the aviation markets in Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries.
The Allied Biofuels project is valued at 6.08 billion US dollars and is being implemented with state support according to a separate decree of the President of Uzbekistan. Previously, the company signed a memorandum of long-term fuel supply with Uzbekistan Airports. The agreement with Pro Logistic Services is another step in building the project's commercial platform, covering the entire value chain—from the production of sustainable aviation fuel in Uzbekistan to the supply to airlines and strategic clients in international markets.
The Road Freight Association (RFA) and the South African Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA) announced on Tuesday the formalization of a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The partnership is intended to create a broader foundation for advancing interests in logistics and cargo forwarding. According to the statement, this agreement establishes a framework for structured interaction in areas such as customs modernization, border digitalization, trade facilitation, and capacity building, with the overall goal of reducing costs and eliminating obstacles across the entire supply chain.
RFA CEO Gavin Kelly welcomed the partnership, calling it timely and a natural alignment of goals. He emphasized that the road transport industry does not exist in isolation, and any delay at an entry port, manual process by any Other Government Agency (OGA), or bottleneck in compliance directly affects carriers in the supply chain.
Kelly added that the formal alliance with SAFLA expands RFA's lobbying capabilities in the forwarding sector, allowing it to present the government with a unified and coordinated signal regarding trade facilitation priorities, rather than fragmented requests from the industry.
Advocating for the power of a collective voice, Kelly noted: 'Many voices speaking in unison carry much more weight than any single association acting alone. This MoU allows RFA to expand its lobbying scope in a meaningful and credible way.'
SAFLA Executive Director Dave Logan highlighted the necessity of solving practical issues for members of both SAFLA and RFA, as well as the wider South African transport and logistics industry, through coordinated measures. Logan stated that cooperation is essential in freight transport because members operate at the intersection of customs, border management, regulatory compliance, and international trade, facing challenges that no single association can solve.
He also noted that joining forces with RFA creates a platform where the combined weight of memberships can contribute to real and tangible improvements. Logan expressed particular support for the momentum being built through SAFLA's participation in the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Stakeholder Forums, as this MoU deepens those interactions, including the prospects of road transport in discussions with the country's tax authorities.
According to the statement, the MoU defines several priority areas for joint action, including engagement with SARS, digitalization of OGA processes, development of 'Smart Borders,' improving trade facilitation, capacity building, and process mapping. The associations will also establish escalation mechanisms to address systemic issues on behalf of their members. Special emphasis is placed on OGA digitalization and simplifying customs procedures, where inefficiency continues to generate unnecessary compliance costs.
The statement concluded by asserting that smoother processes within OGA and SARS reduce the administrative burden on forwarders and customs brokers, and the resulting savings are passed directly down the supply chain to operators and carriers. For RFA, this link is central to the partnership's value proposition, and the Memorandum will be reviewed annually by senior executives of both associations to ensure the collaboration meets evolving sector needs.
