August 12, 2025 [SAF Investor]- Energy major Indian Oil Corporation announced that it became first company in the country to be certified to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) via co-processing pathway by converting used cooking oil (UCO) as feedstock.

The IOC said that it worked with key ministries and departments to achieve the certification.

The Panipat refinery now meets the requirements of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), a global programme under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The certification was awarded by Cotecna India, a subsidiary of Cotecna Switzerland. The company provides testing, inspection and certification services around the world.

The announcement comes a month after IOC shared plans to upgrade its Panipat refinery to produce SAF, according to media reports.

The company plans to shut down its 300,000 barrels per day desulphuriser unit with the overhaul planned for later this year or start of next.

India is planning to introduce a 1% SAF mandate by 2027 with aim to doubling to 2% by 2028.

The company plans to use HEFA technology to produce SAF via used cooking oil with the target to produce 30,000 metric tons of SAF per annum. IOC said it is also planning to upgrade other production sites across the country to produce SAF.

Indian Oil is already in the progress of building a 10,000 tons-per-year green hydrogen facility at the Panipat refinery. The contract to build the Hydrogen unit was awarded to Larsen and Toubro. The engineering firm will build and operate the plant and sell green hydrogen to Indian Oil at 397 Indian rupees ($4.64) per kilogram.

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