"MRPL Solidifies Plans for Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Green Initiative"

In a proactive move aligning with the government's ambitious one per cent blending target for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) is gearing up to establish a 20-kilolitre-per-day plant within the next two years. This strategic initiative aims to showcase indigenously-developed technology and contribute to India's sustainable aviation goals.

Sanjay Varma, who currently holds the additional charge of Managing Director at MRPL, revealed that the company is in the process of obtaining necessary board approvals for the construction of the SAF plant. The estimated cost for setting up the plant is around ₹450 crore, and Varma anticipates the entire process to take approximately two-and-a-half years.

While Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is also making significant strides in this domain with plans to launch the country's first commercial-scale SAF plant at Panipat by 2026, MRPL is positioning itself to play a crucial role in advancing sustainable aviation initiatives.

In addition to seeking approvals and planning construction, MRPL has undertaken a comprehensive survey with subject matter experts to identify potential sources for the required feedstock quantities necessary for SAF production. The feedstock includes materials such as used cooking oil, agricultural waste, fats, or non-food crops.

The move by MRPL comes in the wake of the National Biofuels Coordination Committee's recent announcement, chaired by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, outlining a one per cent SAF blending target for international flights by 2027, with plans to increase it to two per cent in 2028. SAF, derived from waste, holds significant promise as an environmentally friendly alternative in aviation fuel production.

HBL