Sustainable Aviation Fuel to reduce crude imports, says Union aviation minister

Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu has stated that with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production, the country can reduce its crude oil imports and even cut annual emissions by almost 20-25 million tonnes.

“SAF is a practical and immediate solution to decarbonise the aviation sector, with the potential to cut lifecycle CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fuel,” he added.

These remarks come at a critical time, as India is in the news for importing from Russia and facing tariff impositions from the U.S. because of it. India currently imports 88% of its crude oil from international markets, according to the petroleum ministry.

Naidu added that this way the country’s rural incomes will also see a boost due to the optimal usage of agricultural residue, used cooking oil and biomass.

Naidu, who was speaking on Wednesday at the launch of the SAF Feasibility Study, said that with over 750 million metric tonnes of available biomass and 230 million metric tonnes of surplus agricultural residue, India is capable of not just becoming a global leader in SAF production but also become world’s leading exporter.

India is currently the world’s third-largest aviation market, with passenger traffic set to double to 500 million by 2030. Naidu shared that India aims to become self-reliant in SAF production, having the target set for 1% blending by 2027, 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030 in line with the CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) mandate. CORSIA is a market-based mechanism to achieve carbon-neutrality in aviation developed by ICAO.

“India is on track to become the world’s largest domestic aviation market. With a collaborative approach, we are committed to positioning India as a leader in green aviation,” Naidu added.

The feasibility study examines India’s potential for producing SAF, by assessing the availability of domestic feedstock, and feasible production pathways. The study also seeks to evaluate preparedness of infrastructure and policy.

The study was prepared by Ministry of Civil Aviation and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO.) The study was commissioned by European Union as part of the ICAO’s Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ACT-SAF) programme.

Under this series, the EU is conducting a total of 16 studies, of which India is a part of. The other countries where the study was conducted included Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, and Ethiopia.

The India feasibility study started in November last year, and according to the ministry, the prepared report will be discussed at a two-day workshop at Udaan Bhawan, New Delhi, with participation key stakeholders including representatives from ICAO, EASA, DGCA, industry partners, and multiple government departments.

Naidu shared that the COTECNA Inspection India Pvt. Ltd. has been designated as India’s first SAF certification body. Additionally, Indian Oil Corporation’s Panipat Refinery has been certified as the country’s first SAF producer.

Samir Kumar Sinha, secretary, Civil Aviation; Faiz Ahmed of Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA); and Jane Hupe, Deputy Director Environment - Air Transport Bureau, ICAO, were also present at the launch event.