India has the potential to emerge as one of the world’s most competitive and influential hubs for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, according to Dr. Monica Normark, Global Director (Biofuels Technology) at KBR, Inc.
Speaking at SAF Association event in India, Normark said the country’s SAF opportunity extends beyond decarbonising aviation and could help transform abundant domestic biomass into a strategic national asset.
“India has the feedstocks, the talent, the industrial capability, and the scale,” Normark said, adding that aligning these strengths through the right policies and execution model could position India as a major global SAF production hub.
She highlighted agricultural residues as an important resource that could be converted into sustainable fuels, chemicals and SAF feedstocks. According to Normark, developing this value chain could also support rural economic development, strengthen energy security, create skilled employment and contribute to improved local air quality.
ATJ pathway seen as key to India’s SAF ambitions
Normark also pointed to the Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) pathway as a potential cornerstone of India’s SAF ambitions.
The ATJ pathway converts alcohols such as ethanol into aviation fuel, creating a potential link between India’s established biofuel ecosystem and the emerging SAF market. Her comments came after a panel discussion at the SAF Association event involving KBR’s Anuj Jain and other industry leaders, where the discussion focused on how ATJ could be scaled commercially in India.
KBR, through its PureSAF technology and engineering capabilities, is looking to work with Indian industry, policymakers and other partners to support the development of commercial SAF projects, Normark said.
Policy certainty and demand critical for commercial scale
Normark stressed that India’s SAF opportunity will require more than technology and feedstock availability. She called for a long-term roadmap providing policy certainty, durable demand signals and support for the first wave of commercial biorefineries. Her comments come as India moves towards introducing SAF blending in international aviation.
The country has outlined indicative SAF blending targets of 1% for international flights from 2027, 2% from 2028 and 5% from 2030.
A World Economic Forum analysis has also identified India among regions with the potential to become significant SAF production and demand centres, while noting that competitive production will depend on factors including feedstock availability, infrastructure and production economics.
India’s biomass resources provide another potential advantage. Industry analysis has identified agricultural residues, municipal waste and other biomass resources as potential feedstocks for SAF pathways, while research has also assessed the country’s potential to produce SAF through pathways including HEFA, ATJ and Fischer-Tropsch technologies.
From SAF consumer to global producer
Normark’s comments point to a broader opportunity for India to develop an integrated SAF value chain rather than focusing solely on aviation fuel consumption.
The availability of agricultural residues and an established ethanol industry could provide a foundation for developing ATJ-based SAF, while India’s refining, engineering and industrial infrastructure could support the development of larger commercial projects.
However, scaling the industry will depend on establishing reliable feedstock supply chains, securing investment, developing bankable offtake arrangements and creating regulatory certainty.
For Normark, the opportunity is therefore not simply for India to participate in the global SAF market, but to potentially play a leading role in shaping it.
“Countries that move early and decisively will shape the future SAF landscape,” she said.
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