The Centre has permitted the use of ethanol in aviation turbine fuel (ATF), according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The ministry, via a notification dated April 17, has amended the Aviation Turbine Fuel (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001, to allow the blending of ethanol in jet fuel. Following the update, ATF is defined as "mix of hydrocarbons that can also include synthesised components, as per Indian standards."
The move, which is expected to push the usage of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), will contribute in reducing India's dependence on imported crude oil.
Currently, the ATF used by Indian carriers is pure jet fuel, with no biofuels mixed into it. The government has set a target of achieving 1% SAF blending by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030. This aligns with the goal set by International Civil Aviation Organization, the UN civil aviation safety watchdog.
From airlines' perspective, SAF is costlier than conventional ATF. However, the blending of biofuels can contribute in lowering the import bill.
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Over 85% of India's fuel needs are currently fulfilled through oil imports. This makes the country vulnerable to geopolitical headwinds, as seen in the recent cooking gas crunch reported in parts of the country following the West Asia crisis.
SAF, according to reports, is considered as a safe alternative that can cut down emissions while causing no adverse impact on aircraft systems.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has, according to The Hindu report, called for prioritising the shift to SAF, arguing that biofuels should be prioritised for air transport as automobiles have other alternatives like electrification.
SAF can cut carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80%, IATA points out on its website. The fuel can be produced from a number of sources including waste oil and fats, municipal waste, and non-food crops. India, the United States, Brazil and Europe would account for most of the world's biomass feedstock for SAF, with an estimated availability of 105 million tonnes by 2030, as per the IATA's Global Feedstock Assessment for SAF Production Outlook.
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