Air Asia recently operated a flight, i5-767, between Pune and New Delhi using a blend of indigenous Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supplied by Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) in partnership with Praj Industries (Praj). The SAF was produced indigenously by Praj using captive agricultural feedstock.
The SAF sourced for the initiative by Praj Industries is in partnership with Gevo, which has developed an Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology for the production of SAF using bio-based feedstock. Praj produced SAF samples in its R&D facility, Praj Matrix, which underwent detailed testing at IOCL laboratories before it was blended for the special flight.
Air Asia said the flight is a significant milestone in the country’s efforts towards sustainable aviation and demonstrates the commitment of the Air India group, IOCL, and Praj Industries. This is with the support and guidance of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, to develop and propagate indigenous solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of aviation and pave the way for the widespread adoption of SAF in India, said Air Asia in a release.
Speaking on the occasion, Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas said, “By 2025, if we target to blend 1% SAF blending in Jet fuel, India would require around 14 crore litres of SAF/annum. More ambitiously, if we target for 5% SAF blend, India requires around 70 crore litre of SAF/ annum.”
Dr Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman, Praj Industries, said the showcasing of capability to fly using locally-produced SAF is a historic moment for India. “This is another demonstration of the important role of the farming community, by way of Annadata to Urjadata, in India’s journey towards energy independence and green growth,” Chaudhari said.
As part of the Tata Group and a subsidiary of Air India, Air Asia and Air India Express are committed to innovate and collaborate in order to mitigate environmental impact, said Aloke Singh, Managing Director, AirAsia India and Air India Express.
SM Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil said the state-run corporation, under the aegis of MoPNG, has begun this journey, and “I am confident that SAF will soon become the norm rather than an exception in the aviation industry”.
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