Sustainable Aviation Fuel Using Indigenous Feedstock a Step towards Decarbonizing Aviation, says Puri

Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri emphasised on the need of India becoming energy Atmanirbhar by 2047, in line with the clear mandate being set by the Prime Minister Modi.

“It goes without saying that the petroleum sector will have to contribute immensely to realize this vision”, added Puri while addressing the august gathering comprising the Captains from the industry and media fraternity, in New Delhi.

In a significant development towards decarbonizing of the aviation sector, India’s first commercial passenger flight using indigenously produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend was successfully flown. Air Asia flight (I5 767) flew from Pune to Delhi powered by SAF blended aviation turbine fuel (ATF) produced by Praj Industries Ltd by using indigenous feedstock, supplied by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and used by Air Asia. The Minister received this special flight at the airport. 

Describing the occasion as a significant milestone in the country's efforts towards Net Zero emissions by 2070, Hardeep Singh Puri said, “I am glad to witness this historic occasion and receive the first commercial flight fuelled by SAF blended ATF. This would be the First domestic commercial passenger flight with SAF blending up to 1 percent as demonstration mode. By 2025, if we target to blend 1 percent SAF blending in Jet fuel, India would require around 14 crore litre of SAF/annum.  More ambitiously, if we target for 5 percent SAF blend, India required around 70 crore litre of SAF/ annum”.

Highlighting the need of alternative and sustainable fuel sources, Hardeep Singh Puri said that SAF has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent compared to conventional jet fuel.

With a focussed vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Petroleum Minister said, “Production of SAF using sugarcane molasses as indigenous feedstock and technology in India is a major step towards self-reliance and de-carbonization of the aviation sector in line with our commitment for achieving Net Zero by 2070.”