Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has inaugurated a demonstration plant for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at its Visakh Refinery, marking a significant step in India's pursuit of cleaner aviation fuels. The plant will produce SAF by co-processing used cooking oil (UCO) in the existing Full Conversion Hydrocracker Unit, utilizing current infrastructure to accelerate green fuel adoption.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized that this project advances India toward its SAF blending goals, with targets of 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030. The initiative also aligns with the nation's vision for sustainable development and emission reduction in the aviation sector.
Contributing to Environmental and Energy Goals
Following certification under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the Visakh Refinery plans to annually produce around 10,000 metric tonnes of SAF from January 2027. This effort aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, promote a waste-to-wealth approach, and support India's commitments towards achieving net-zero emissions.
“This SAF project is a strategic milestone that not only helps decarbonize Indian aviation but also promotes circular waste management and energy self-reliance,” said Hardeep Singh Puri.
The project is part of a larger national initiative involving public sector companies like Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and research agencies to develop sustainable aviation fuels and meet global environmental standards.
With these developments, India is enhancing its energy security while contributing to international efforts for climate change mitigation and sustainable flying, supported by standards set by ICAO's CORSIA scheme.
