India plans to mandate the use of 1% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for domestic airlines by 2025, in a bid to cut emissions from the sector.
Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the plan on May 19, saying that India does not yet have policies governing SAF. However, the European Union is expected to start mandating the use of SAF in 2025, with a minimum volume of 2%.
Puri said that 140 million litres of biofuels would be needed to meet the 1% SAF mandate. He added that the mandate could be increased to 4-5% if more biofuels become available.
An Indian panel had previously recommended that the country introduce a 1% SAF mandate by 2025. The final mandate will require approval from the Indian cabinet. Puri made the announcement at an event to receive the country's first local flight powered by biojet. The biofuel was provided by private company Praj Industries and mixed with jet fuel by Indian Oil Corp, the country's top refiner.
S.S.V. Ramakumar, director of research and development at IOC, said that the company plans to set up a plant by 2026 to produce 87,000 tonnes a year of SAF. The plant will cost over 15 billion rupees.
SAF is made from renewable resources such as waste cooking oil, animal fats, and biomass. It is a cleaner-burning fuel than traditional jet fuel and produces lower emissions. The use of SAF is seen as a key way to reduce the environmental impact of aviation. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has set a target of using 10% SAF by 2030.
India's move to mandate the use of SAF is a positive step towards reducing emissions from the aviation sector. The country has a large and growing aviation market, and the use of SAF can help to make flying more sustainable.
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