What Happened
- The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Association (SAFA) has called for scaling up the use of Used Cooking Oil (UCO) as a primary feedstock for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in India.
- SAFA recommended that stronger UCO collection systems be implemented across restaurants, hotels, catering services, and food processing industries, arguing India could significantly increase UCO recovery for SAF production.
- Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) obtained India's first SAF certification (ISCC CORSIA certification) at its Panipat refinery in December 2025 and plans to produce 35,000 tonnes of SAF annually; it has signed an MoU with Air India for UCO-based SAF supply.
- India's SAF blending targets: 1% SAF blend for international flights by 2027; 5% by 2030; 15% for domestic flights by 2040.
- SAF produced from UCO can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared with conventional jet fuel (kerosene).
Static Topic Bridges
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) — What It Is and Why It Matters
SAF is a fuel produced from non-petroleum feedstocks that can be used in existing jet engines without modification (a "drop-in" fuel). It is the aviation sector's primary pathway to decarbonisation, as battery-electric and hydrogen propulsion remain technically and commercially immature for large commercial aircraft.
- SAF feedstocks: Used Cooking Oil (UCO), agricultural residues, municipal solid waste (MSW), forestry residues, algae, synthetic fuels (Power-to-Liquid)
- UCO advantages: Waste material (no land-use change emissions), lower cultivation emissions, can be hydro-processed into jet fuel (HEFA — Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids pathway)
- Lifecycle GHG emission reduction: UCO-based SAF reduces emissions by up to 80% versus conventional kerosene
- ASTM certification: SAF must meet ASTM D7566 international specifications before commercial use; seven approved production pathways exist under ASTM D7566
- Current global SAF share: Less than 0.5% of aviation fuel consumption; significant scaling needed
Connection to this news: SAFA's advocacy for UCO-based SAF taps into an underutilised waste stream — India's vast food service sector generates large quantities of used cooking oil that currently has no well-structured collection or monetisation system.
ICAO CORSIA — The International Carbon Offsetting Framework for Aviation
The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) global mechanism to manage CO₂ emissions from international aviation. It is the first sector-specific global offsetting scheme.
- ICAO: Specialised UN agency for international civil aviation; founded 1944 (Chicago Convention); Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
- CORSIA adopted: October 2016 (ICAO 39th Assembly)
- Objective: Stabilise international aviation CO₂ net emissions at 2020 levels (carbon-neutral growth)
- How it works: Airlines that exceed the baseline level of emissions must purchase eligible carbon offsets OR use eligible SAF; SAF generates credits because it replaces fossil jet fuel
- CORSIA SAF criteria: Feedstock must meet sustainability criteria (no deforestation, no land-use change); lifecycle emissions must be below a minimum threshold
- UCO classification under CORSIA: Classified as "waste and residue" — assigned zero cultivation emissions; only collection and processing energy counted
- ISCC CORSIA: International Sustainability and Carbon Certification scheme that certifies SAF under CORSIA standards — IOCL received this certification for its Panipat plant
- Pilot phase: 2021–2023 (voluntary); Core phase: 2024–2026; Full phase: 2027–2035
Connection to this news: IOCL's ISCC CORSIA certification means its UCO-based SAF qualifies for CORSIA credits, making Indian SAF commercially viable for international airlines seeking compliance with the scheme.
India's National Policy on Biofuels and SAF
India's biofuel policy provides the national framework within which SAF development sits:
- National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 (updated 2022): Promotes advanced biofuels from waste feedstocks; categorises feedstocks into generations (1G — food crops; 2G — agricultural residues; 3G — algae)
- SAF is effectively a 2G/advanced biofuel application in aviation
- National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC): Apex body overseeing biofuel policy implementation; sets blending mandates
- SAF blending targets (India): 1% for international flights by 2027; 2% by 2028; 5% by 2030; 15% for domestic flights by 2040
- IOCL Panipat refinery: First Indian facility certified to produce SAF; annual capacity 35,000 tonnes
- At Wings India 2026, IOCL signed SAF supply agreement with Akasa Air
Connection to this news: SAFA's recommendation for stronger UCO collection systems addresses a critical supply-chain gap in India's SAF ambitions — without a systematic collection infrastructure, the feedstock will remain dispersed across millions of small food businesses.
Key Facts & Data
- UCO-based SAF lifecycle GHG reduction: up to 80% versus conventional jet fuel
- India's first SAF certification: IOCL Panipat refinery (ISCC CORSIA certified, December 2025)
- IOCL planned SAF annual production: 35,000 tonnes
- India SAF blending targets: 1% international (2027), 5% international (2030), 15% domestic (2040)
- CORSIA adopted: October 2016 (ICAO 39th Assembly); ICAO founded 1944 (Chicago Convention)
- ICAO headquarters: Montreal, Canada
- SAF production pathway for UCO: HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids)
- SAF technical standard: ASTM D7566 (7 approved production pathways)
- CORSIA phases: Pilot (2021–2023) → Core (2024–2026) → Full (2027–2035)
- India's National Policy on Biofuels: 2018 (updated 2022)
- National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC): Apex body for biofuel blending mandates