Praj, IATA, ISMA In Pact For India-Specific Carbon Intensity Metric For SAF

Praj Industries Ltd., the International Air Transport Association, and the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote certification and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the company said Wednesday.

The partnership aims to establish an accurate carbon intensity figure for SAF made from Indian sugarcane, via the Ethanol-to-Jet route—a crucial metric to benchmark SAF’s environmental impact versus conventional jet fuel.

The collaboration will carry out a full life-cycle assessment of sugarcane-based SAF to evaluate its environmental and economic feasibility. It will also work toward creating a certification methodology aligned with global sustainability standards but tailored to India’s context.

India, the world’s third-largest aviation market, has targeted a 2% SAF blend in international flights by 2028. SAF is produced from non-petroleum feedstock such as sugarcane, agri-waste, and plant oils, and can be blended with conventional fuel to reduce carbon emissions.

Praj earlier worked with Indian Oil and AirAsia India to successfully produce SAF from domestic feedstock. The MoU was signed during the 81st IATA AGM in New Delhi, where PM Narendra Modi reiterated India’s commitment to green aviation.