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India amends ATF rules to allow ethanol and synthetic hydrocarbon blends in aviation fuel
India amended the Aviation Turbine Fuel regulations to expand ATF definitions to include ethanol and synthetic hydrocarbon blends. The notification does not set immediate blending targets, but outlines future SAF milestones for international flights, with no domestic targets yet.
Why It Matters
The change aims to reduce oil imports and emissions by enabling SAF and ethanol blends in aviation fuel, aligning India with broader global moves toward greener aviation.
Timeline
3 Events
No immediate mandatory ATF blending targets
April 22, 2026
The notification has not prescribed any immediate mandatory blending targets.
Plan to blend SAF into jet fuel for international flights with milestones
April 22, 2026
India plans to blend 1 per cent SAF into jet fuel for international flights by 2027, increasing to 2 per cent by 2028 and 5 per cent by 2030, in line with the CORSIA mandate. SAF is produced from renewable feedstocks including waste oils and fats, sugar and cereals, municipal solid waste, wood and agricultural residues, or captured CO2. No blending targets have been specified yet for fuel used in domestic flights.
MoPNG gazette notification amends ATF definition to include ethanol and synthetic hydrocarbon blends
April 22, 2026
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, through a gazette notification, amended the Aviation Turbine Fuel (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, expanding ATF's definition to allow blends with ethanol and synthetic hydrocarbons, and aligning enforcement provisions with updated criminal procedures.