India is moving forward in its mission to decarbonise the aviation sector, with a strategic partnership between Praj Industries, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA). The three parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive the certification and adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the country.

The collaboration supports India’s SAF blending targets of 1 per cent by 2027 and 2 per cent by 2028, and will conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of SAF produced from Indian sugarcane feedstock using the Ethanol-to-Jet (ETJ) pathway. This assessment will help establish the carbon intensity (CI) of indigenous SAF—an essential metric for comparing its environmental performance to traditional jet fuels.

As part of the initiative, the partners will also propose a certification methodology tailored to Indian conditions, aligned with international standards such as ISCC CORSIA and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) CORSIA framework.

Dr Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, said the collaboration aims to place India at the forefront of sustainable aviation fuel development. “This partnership combines science and global best practices to create high-quality SAF solutions for India,” he noted.

Praj has been a key player in India’s SAF journey, having already produced SAF from local feedstock in partnership with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and AirAsia India. The company’s R&D centre, Praj Matrix in Pune, houses the country’s first integrated SAF demonstration plant.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s SVP Sustainability and Chief Economist, stressed that certification and measurement are crucial for developing a credible SAF market in India. “Tailored progress in these areas will accelerate market development and ensure global acceptance,” she said.

ISMA’s Director General Deepak Ballani added that India’s success with the Ethanol Blending Programme proves the sugar industry’s capability. “With this momentum, India could become Asia’s largest supplier of low-carbon SAF, contributing to a just energy transition.”