HPCL launches SAF demonstration facility

Indian state-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) said it has inaugurated sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) demonstration facility at the Visakh Refinery.

The company successfully produced a batch of SAF at the refinery through co-processing by using used cooking oil (UCO) in the Full Conversion Hydrocracker Unit.

HPCL said that the initiative integrates bio-feedstock up to ASTM-permitted limits using existing refinery infrastructure, producing SAF that meets aviation fuel quality standards.

With a roadmap to produce 10 TMTPA of SAF from 2027, HPCL is advancing circular economy principles, waste-to-value solutions, and Bharat’s transition to low-carbon aviation.

India is currently mulling a 1% SAF mandate form 2027 onwards with plans to scale it up to 2% in 2028 and 5% in 2030.

Multiple public sector companies in India have already announced plans to develop SAF supplying including production at existing refineries. Several of these have done MoU with globally renowned SAF technology firms to explore the potential of producing SAF and eSAF in the country through HEFA, alcohol-to-jet and methanol-to-jet pathways.

Earlier in June, India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh said it is working on launching a SAF policy to attract investment in the sector.