Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) has announced plans to set up sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) units at its refineries. This plan will help support the government's one percent blending target. The company will invest up to Rs 1,400 crore in setting up the facilities.
BPCL runs three refineries in Mumbai, Kochi, and Bina, Madhya Pradesh boasting a combined annual refining capacity of 35.3 million tonne per annum (MTPA). The company will set up the SAF production facility which is capable of meeting five percent blending as per GoI notification by 2030. Based on technology maturity and other logistics consideration, it will chalk out further plans. The one percent SAF blending is for the international sector with SAF production of around 100 tpd.
Last year, IOCL had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with LanzaJet to pursue large-capacity SAF production in India using LanzaJet's leading and proven alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology. IOCL plans to start the country's first commercial-scale SAF plant at Panipat by 2026. Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals is also setting up a 20-klpd SAF plant.
BPCL plans to maximize the adoption of indigenous technologies, and is evaluating oil to jet co-processing in an existing facility, oil to jet green field facility, and alcohol to jet new facility as pathways. The selection will be based on comprehensive assessments of sustainability, logistical feasibility, and economic viability. With focus on most effective technologies that maximize carbon life-cycle benefits, promoting environmental protection, mature technologies from international players are readily available to meet the blending mandate within the required time frame. Currently, it is engaged in discussions with multiple agencies for the three pathways.
