India Advances SAF Goals With Praj–IATA–ISMA Pact

05 Jun 2025 CW Team

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.

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.

Technology

28 Oct 2025

Building Faster, Smarter, and Greener!

Backed by ULCCS’s century-old legacy, U-Sphere combines technology, modular design and sustainable practices to deliver faster and more efficient projects. In an interaction with CW, Rohit Prabhakar, Director - Business Development, shares how the company’s integrated model of ‘Speed-Build’, ‘Smart-Build’ and ‘Sustain-Build’ is redefining construction efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility in India.U-Sphere positions itself at the intersection of speed, sustainability and smart design. How does this translate into measurable efficiency on the ground?At U..

Infrastructure Transport

28 Oct 2025

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

Real Estate

28 Oct 2025

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..