SAF One is preparing to begin construction of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, with initial fuel deliveries scheduled for 2029. The project will use waste oils and fats as feedstock and support the company’s existing supply agreement with global commodity trader Trafigura.
SAF One has outlined plans to develop the facility using the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) technology pathway, which converts suitable renewable oils and fats into aviation fuel.
In an announcement on November 9, the company said construction is expected to begin in the coming months. The project will adopt a modular development model, allowing production capacity to be expanded in stages rather than relying on a single large-scale installation.
Kakinada Facility to Supply SAF Under Trafigura Agreement
A key commercial component of the project is SAF One’s previously announced long-term offtake agreement with Trafigura.
Under the arrangement, the Kakinada facility is expected to supply sustainable aviation fuel to Trafigura, which serves customers across international energy and commodity markets.
The agreement provides an identified commercial route for fuel produced at the proposed plant, as demand for lower-carbon aviation fuels develops through regulatory blending requirements and voluntary commitments by aviation industry participants.
SAF One Co-Founder and CEO Deepak Munganahalli said the company’s development strategy would begin with a compact, modular facility, with construction expected to move forward in the coming months.
Trafigura’s Head of Low Carbon Fuels Business Development, Jason Breslaw, also highlighted Kakinada’s industrial infrastructure and access to international shipping routes as advantages for future fuel supply.
HEFA Technology to Convert Waste Oils and Fats Into Aviation Fuel
The proposed facility will process sustainably sourced waste oils and fats using the HEFA production pathway.
HEFA is an established technology for producing renewable aviation fuel from lipid-based feedstocks, including suitable waste oils and animal fats.
The availability, traceability and sustainability characteristics of these feedstocks will be important considerations as the project progresses toward commercial operations.
SAF One intends to develop its production infrastructure through incremental expansion. According to the company, this approach is designed to manage development risks while improving predictability around plant performance and fuel deliveries.
Why Kakinada Is Important for SAF Exports
Kakinada’s location on India’s eastern coast is central to SAF One’s project strategy.
The port city offers access to deep-water maritime infrastructure, bulk liquid storage facilities and an established industrial ecosystem.
Its connectivity to Bay of Bengal shipping routes could also support fuel movements to international markets, particularly as SAF demand expands in countries implementing aviation fuel blending requirements.
The project’s commercial prospects will depend on several factors, including feedstock procurement, construction progress, regulatory compliance and the development of reliable logistics arrangements.
Project Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Project developer | SAF One |
| Location | Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Product | Sustainable Aviation Fuel |
| Production pathway | Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) |
| Feedstock | Sustainably sourced waste oils and fats |
| Development model | Compact, modular plants with phased expansion |
| Construction | Expected to begin in the coming months |
| Targeted fuel deliveries | 2029 |
| Offtake partner | Trafigura |
| Target market | International SAF supply markets |
India’s Growing SAF Production Landscape
The Kakinada development comes as India seeks to establish a larger role in sustainable aviation fuel production and supply.
Projects using waste-derived feedstocks could help connect India’s renewable fuel manufacturing capabilities with international aviation markets.
For SAF One, the next stage will involve translating its announced development plans into construction activity and, ultimately, commercial production.
The company has not specified the plant’s production capacity or detailed construction milestones in its November 9 announcement.
