The Government of India is looking to mandate blending of jet fuel with sustainable aviation fuel as the Nation works on ways to reduce emissions.
Speaking at the IATA Aviation Energy Forum in New Delhi, Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal said, “We are committed to reducing emissions by fossil fuels. The Civil Aviation Ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural gas on the issues related to Sustainable Aviation Fuel.”
The secretary also mentioned that both ministries are working to mandate a certain percentage of blending which is yet in progress and they do realize that the demand won’t be created unless a mandate is implemented over a period of time. The two important aspects here remain to be whether the country has adequate feedstock and are the technologies in place proven, time-tested which will be able to produce SAF in quantities.
Mentioning the aviation sector in all, Bansal commented that the sector is slowly back on growth path however, over the last few months Indian carriers have been struggling for want of engines being supplied by OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). And the pace at which Indian aviation wants to grow is actually getting hindered by global supply chains, OEMs not being able to supply at the speed the country is demanding.
Recently, airlines belonging to the Tata Group including Air India, Air Asia India and Vistara (Tata SIA Airlines) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Institute of Petroleum to work on the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
