Govt reviews SAF blending norms, CORSIA preparations for airlines: Here's what it means

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has directed all stakeholders to expedite preparations for the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and implementation of the global carbon reduction framework for international aviation from January 1, 2027.

What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?

SAF is an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks, including the food and yard waste portion of municipal solid waste, woody biomass, fats, greases, oils, and other feedstocks.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), SAF has the greatest potential to reduce CO2 emissions from international aviation.

What was discussed at the meeting?

Chairing a high-level meeting on compliance with ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the minister reviewed progress on SAF production, certification, supply chain development and the proposed blending roadmap.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from the ministries of civil aviation, petroleum and natural gas, and environment, along with representatives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), oil marketing companies, airlines and airport operators.

The meeting assessed the status of SAF production projects being implemented by oil marketing companies and their commissioning timelines, according to an official statement.

Naidu said India is committed to building a globally competitive SAF ecosystem that supports the growth of the aviation sector while contributing to global decarbonisation efforts.

"SAF is not merely a compliance requirement but a strategic national opportunity. Multiple stakeholders, including farmers, stand to gain from the SAF value chain," he said.

The minister said the immediate priority is to achieve the one per cent CORSIA blending requirement in the most cost-effective manner while developing a carbon-credit offset mechanism through a whole-of-government approach.

What is CORSIA and when does it become mandatory?

CORSIA is a compliance framework, agreed by governments, and is the only global market-based scheme that applies to a sector.

The framework allows aircraft operators to reduce its offsetting requirements through the use of eligible fuels, which include SAF and lower carbon aviation fuels.

Its implementation has been divided into three phases: two voluntary phases (2021-2023 and 2024–2026) and a mandatory phase from January 1, 2027.

Naidu said all stakeholders have been directed to complete the identified action points so that India is fully prepared before the mandatory phase of CORSIA begins on January 1, 2027.

The government has approved indicative SAF blending targets of 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030 for international flight operations.

Naidu reviewed the proposed implementation roadmap for the SAF blending mandate, including the roles of oil marketing companies, airlines and airport operators.

Discussions covered the development of a national SAF registry with end-to-end traceability, a monitoring and reporting framework aligned with ICAO requirements, and measures to facilitate certification and market access.

The minister also said the draft SAF policy is in its final stages and is undergoing inter-ministerial consultations.

"We have to ensure that this process imposes the least possible burden on passengers and airlines. For that we need to study all the possible SAF pathways and identify the most cost-effective mechanism right from production to drop-in at the airport," he said.

The meeting also discussed India's preparedness for CORSIA implementation, including issuance of Letters of Authorisation and development of a CORSIA-compliant carbon market framework in the country.