Union Minister Naidu Calls SAF Key to Decarbonising Aviation Sector

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu recently unveiled the first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Feasibility Report, positioning the country to emerge as a global leader in green aviation.

The report, prepared in partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and supported by the European Union, was released at Udaan Bhawan, New Delhi. The launch was attended by Secretary of Civil Aviation Samir Kumar Sinha, Director General of Civil Aviation Faiz Ahmed, and Jane Hupe, Deputy Director, Environment, Air Transport Bureau, ICAO.

Undertaken under the ICAO ACT-SAF Programme, the study evaluates India’s potential to produce and adopt drop-in SAF by examining feedstock availability, production pathways, infrastructure, and policy readiness. It tailors global best practices to India’s socio-economic and environmental context and offers a roadmap for SAF adoption.

The minister reaffirmed India’s SAF blending targets, 1 percent by 2027, 2 percent by 2028, and 5 percent by 2030, aligned with the CORSIA mandate. “SAF is a practical and immediate solution to decarbonize the aviation sector, with the potential to cut lifecycle CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fuel,” Naidu said.

Citing India’s 750 million metric tonnes of biomass and nearly 230 million metric tonnes of surplus agricultural residue, he highlighted the country’s capacity not only to meet domestic demand but also to export SAF. He pointed to key milestones such as the designation of COTECNA Inspection India Pvt. Ltd. as the nation’s first SAF certification body and Indian Oil Corporation’s Panipat Refinery as the first certified SAF producer.

Naidu emphasised that SAF adoption could cut emissions by 20–25 million tonnes annually, reduce crude oil imports, and create new income streams for farmers through a biomass value chain. “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is on track to become the world’s largest domestic aviation market. With a collaborative approach, we are committed to positioning India as a leader in green aviation,” he said.

Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha stressed that climate change is a collective challenge, noting that 88 Indian airports already operate on 100 percent green energy. He added that India continues to maintain one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient aircraft fleets in the world.

DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed highlighted India’s status as the world’s third-largest aviation market, with passenger traffic expected to double to 500 million by 2030. He said the SAF report will guide national policy to ensure sustainability is built into the sector’s rapid growth.

The SAF Feasibility Report marks a critical step in the ministry’s plan to create a domestic SAF ecosystem. With vast reserves of agricultural waste, municipal solid waste, and energy crops, India is seen as having strong potential to become a global hub for sustainable fuel production.