Plan to Increase Use of Used Cooking Oil for SAF in India

Mumbai: Preparations are in full swing to ramp up the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in India, a process in which Used Cooking Oil (UCO) could play a pivotal role. However, a challenge lies in the fact that the actual collection of UCO remains significantly lower than its potential availability. Rough estimates suggest that India generates between 1.8 and 2.6 million tonnes of UCO annually, yet only 1.10 to 1.56 million tonnes are formally collected.

India has planned indicative targets for SAF blending in international flights: 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030. Achieving this 5% target could require an annual supply of approximately 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes of SAF.

Since UCO alone will not suffice to meet future SAF demand, India is also exploring SAF production from other sources such as agricultural residues, pulp (sugarcane bagasse), waste fats, oilseeds, municipal waste, and other feedstocks.

With an annual edible oil consumption of approximately 29–30 million tonnes, India holds significant potential for the availability of UCO. Systematically collecting UCO stocks and blending them into SAF could greatly assist the country in saving foreign exchange—an area the government is now focusing on closely.