Archive · 14 Dec 2025
India Eyes Global SAF Export Hub
India has a lot of ethanol, which is a type of alcohol made from plants like sugarcane.
A man named Sameer Sinha, who works for a big company called Triveni, says India can use this ethanol to make something called Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF.
SAF is a cleaner fuel for airplanes.
India has more ethanol than it needs right now, and it's better for the environment than ethanol from other countries like Brazil.
Sinha thinks India can start making SAF by 2029 and even sell it to other countries.
He also says the government should help by giving money and making rules that support this idea.
Right now, India is using a little bit of SAF made from used cooking oil, but Sinha thinks ethanol will be the better choice in the future.
India has a surplus of ethanol, making it a potential global export hub for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
SAF plants could be operational by 2029, with policy clarity expected by the end of the current financial year.
India's ethanol has lower carbon intensity compared to rivals like Brazil, giving it a competitive advantage.
Setting up an SAF facility would require significant investment and policy support, including offtake guarantees and viable pricing.
India's total distillery capacity is approximately 1,900 crore litres, with a surplus of 450-plus crore litres of ethanol available.
- Who
- Sameer Sinha, CEO (Sugar Business) of Triveni Engineering and Industries Ltd.
- What
- India's potential to become a global export hub for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) leveraging its ethanol surplus and lower carbon intensity.
- When
- Earliest SAF plants could be operational by 2029, with policy clarity expected by the end of the current financial year.
- Where
- India, with potential exports to Southeast Asian countries and Dubai.
- Why
- India has a surplus of ethanol and lower carbon intensity compared to rivals like Brazil, making it a competitive player in the SAF market.
- Ethanol Production Capacity
- 1,900 crore litres
- Ethanol Surplus
- 450-plus crore litres
- SAF Plant Investment
- ₹1,400 crore
- SAF Plant Capacity
- 80 tonnes per day
- Ethanol Supply for SAF
- 200 kg per day
- Projected SAF Demand
- 50-60 crore litres (5 years)
- Ethanol Required for SAF
- 120 crore litres (5 years)