India has taken a significant step toward decarbonising its aviation sector with a new strategic partnership between Praj Industries, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA). The three organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the certification and adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) derived from Indian sugarcane via the Ethanol-to-Jet (ETJ) pathway.

This initiative aligns with India’s SAF blending targets of 1 per cent by 2027 and 2 per cent by 2028, as part of the national strategy to reduce carbon emissions from aviation—one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise.

Under the agreement, the partners will conduct a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to determine the Carbon Intensity (CI) of SAF produced from Indian sugarcane feedstock. The CI metric, expressed in grams of CO₂ equivalent per megajoule (gCO₂e/MJ), is crucial in evaluating the environmental benefit of SAF compared to conventional jet fuel.

The collaboration will also focus on developing a certification framework tailored to Indian conditions, aligned with globally recognised sustainability standards such as ISCC CORSIA and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) CORSIA.

Dr Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, said, “India has immense potential to become a global leader in sustainable aviation fuel. This collaboration blends scientific rigour with international best practices to ensure our SAF solutions meet the highest global benchmarks.”

Praj has already made notable strides in SAF development, having produced aviation-grade biofuel from indigenous feedstock in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) and AirAsia India. Its R&D centre, Praj Matrix in Pune, houses the country’s first integrated SAF demonstration facility.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s SVP Sustainability and Chief Economist, noted, “Certification and accurate measurements are vital for scaling SAF. This MoU lays the foundation to fast-track SAF development in India and improve its global marketability.”

Deepak Ballani, Director General of ISMA, added, “India’s ethanol blending success proves the sugar industry’s potential. Becoming Asia’s largest supplier of low-carbon-intensity biofuels like SAF is a natural next step in our just energy transition.”

The collaboration marks a major milestone in India's sustainable aviation roadmap, reinforcing the country’s commitment to innovation, green growth, and global climate goals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the 81st IATA AGM, reiterated India’s push for SAF adoption and urged international cooperation to build eco-friendly aviation infrastructure.