In Short : By December 2025, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the country’s biggest refinery, plans to start producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at its Panipat facility. The facility, which can produce 35,000 tons annually, is designed to satisfy future SAF blending requirements for international travel.
Used cooking oil converted into certified clean fuel
With the ISCC CORSIA certification, IOC’s Panipat facility is now the first in India to be permitted to create SAF using spent cooking oil (UCO), which is obtained from lodging facilities, dining establishments, and food producers. By 2027, this puts India in a position to achieve the 1% SAF blending requirement for foreign flights, with a 2% scale by 2028. IOC Chairman A. S. Sahney stated that because airlines are required to use SAF, demand will continue to be strong even though it is almost three times more expensive than traditional jet fuel. Exporting any excess produce is another option.
Robust Supply Chain for Feedstock and Compliance Preparedness
IOC expects procuring UCO to be easy because the nation produces a lot of it, most of which is now exported. To guarantee a consistent supply, the refinery will make use of well-established aggregation networks. IOC is in a perfect position to spearhead India’s transition to green aviation as the Panipat facility approaches completion.
Impact and Significance of Clean Energy
An important step in decarbonizing the challenging-to-electrify aircraft industry is IOC’s foray into SAF manufacture. The project lowers lifecycle carbon emissions and encourages circular economy principles by turning used cooking oil into jet fuel. Additionally, it reinforces the infrastructure for renewable fuels and is consistent with India’s larger energy transformation plans.
Concerning the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC)
With a major presence in pipelines, marketing, and refining, Indian Oil Corporation Limited is the biggest fuel retailer and refiner in India. IOC is promoting low-carbon initiatives like SAF and green hydrogen with its more than 30 refineries and integrated energy activities. Its first venture into aviation biofuels, the Panipat SAF project, demonstrates its increasing dedication to sustainable energy solutions.
