The civil aviation ministry circulated a draft policy that would initially require international flights to adopt sustainable aviation fuel, eventually scaling blending to 20% by 2040. Because this cleaner fuel can be blended without modifying existing engines, it offers an immediate pathway to cut emissions by up to 80%. To keep operators from skirting local purchases through economic tankering, the draft mandates that carriers source nearly 90% of their annual fuel from Indian international airports. Non-compliant airlines and oil marketing companies may face formal penalties under the proposed rules.
Key points
The mandate directly supports an International Civil Aviation Organisation agreement to r…: The mandate directly supports an International Civil Aviation Organisation agreement to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
Both airlines and oil marketing companies could face regulatory penalties if they fail to…: Both airlines and oil marketing companies could face regulatory penalties if they fail to adhere to blending mandates.
Airlines caution that meeting long-term emission goals depends heavily on reducing the hi…: Airlines caution that meeting long-term emission goals depends heavily on reducing the high production cost of sustainable fuel.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
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The Ministry of Civil Aviation has circulated a draft policy of sustainable aviation fuel usage which proposes an initial blending mandate of 1% for international flights. The proposal, a copy of which was seen by ET, has outlined a two-phase roadmap, with SAF blending targeted to rise to 5% by 2030 in the first phase, and then to 20% by 2040 in the second.
SAF is a liquid fuel that can be blended with aviation turbine fuel (ATF) without the need to develop new planes or engines. It can potentially reduce carbon emissions by up to 80%.
In October 2022, member states of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had agreed to a long-term aspirational goal (LTAG) of net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from aviation by 2050. SAF has long been seen as the industry's fastest way to reduce emissions.
According to the draft, domestic and international airlines must uplift nearly 90% of their annual aviation turbine fuel (ATF) needs from international airports in India. This is aimed at preventing what the Centre describes as 'economic tankering'. It involves…
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