The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization and supported by the European Union, released a feasibility study under the ICAO ACT-SAF Programme to map India’s potential for producing and using drop-in Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The study evaluates domestic feedstock availability, including biomass and agricultural residues totaling nearly one billion metric tonnes alongside infrastructure, policy readiness, and production pathways suited to India's socio-economic context. The roadmap sets a progressive blending target: 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030 under the CORSIA guidelines. With SAF capable of reducing lifecycle CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel, the initiative is expected to help cut crude oil imports, lower emissions by 20–25 million tonnes annually, and create new value chains for farmers through biomass utilization. Notable milestones include the designation of COTECNA Inspection India as the country’s first SAF certification body and Indian Oil Corporation’s Panipat Refinery’s certification for SAF production.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What institutional supports-such as feedstock aggregation systems, financing models, refining incentives, and regulatory frameworks - are required to operationalize this SAF roadmap across states and integrate it with India’s broader clean energy and aviation industry policies?
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