IOCL to Upgrade Panipat Unit for SAF by 2026
OIL & GAS

IOCL to Upgrade Panipat Unit for SAF by 2026

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) will temporarily shut down its 300,000 barrels-per-day diesel desulphuriser at the Panipat refinery to upgrade the facility for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production from used cooking oil (UCO).
The upgrade is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026, with the unit projected to generate 30,000 metric tonnes of SAF annually, according to Arvind Kumar, Head of Refineries at IOCL. Diesel production will remain unaffected during the upgrade, thanks to alternative hydrotreaters operating at the site.
This move supports India’s aim to blend one per cent SAF by 2027, increasing to two per cent by 2028, aligning with national decarbonisation goals in the aviation sector.
IOCL is also exploring similar retrofits across its kerosene-producing units to expand SAF production further.
In parallel, IOCL will soon invite bids for a 70,000-tonne-per-year green hydrogen project, along with a separate SAF initiative. It has already awarded Larsen & Toubro (L&T) a contract to construct a 10,000-tonne-per-year green hydrogen plant at Panipat, which will supply hydrogen at Rs 397 per kg.
These initiatives reinforce IOCL’s commitment to India’s green hydrogen vision, targeting 50 per cent hydrogen demand from clean sources by 2030, and signal a broader transition towards low-carbon, sustainable energy infrastructure.

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) will temporarily shut down its 300,000 barrels-per-day diesel desulphuriser at the Panipat refinery to upgrade the facility for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production from used cooking oil (UCO).The upgrade is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026, with the unit projected to generate 30,000 metric tonnes of SAF annually, according to Arvind Kumar, Head of Refineries at IOCL. Diesel production will remain unaffected during the upgrade, thanks to alternative hydrotreaters operating at the site.This move supports India’s aim to blend one per cent SAF by 2027, increasing to two per cent by 2028, aligning with national decarbonisation goals in the aviation sector.IOCL is also exploring similar retrofits across its kerosene-producing units to expand SAF production further.In parallel, IOCL will soon invite bids for a 70,000-tonne-per-year green hydrogen project, along with a separate SAF initiative. It has already awarded Larsen & Toubro (L&T) a contract to construct a 10,000-tonne-per-year green hydrogen plant at Panipat, which will supply hydrogen at Rs 397 per kg.These initiatives reinforce IOCL’s commitment to India’s green hydrogen vision, targeting 50 per cent hydrogen demand from clean sources by 2030, and signal a broader transition towards low-carbon, sustainable energy infrastructure.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?