According to Reuters, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the country’s largest refiner, plans to upgrade a diesel desulfurization unit at its Panipat refinery — which has a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day — to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The revamp is expected to take place either at the end of this year or early next year, with SAF production scheduled to begin in 2025.

The upgraded unit will process used cooking oil (UCO) and is expected to produce around 30,000 tons of SAF annually. This initiative aligns with India’s national target of blending 1% SAF into aviation fuel by 2027 and doubling that to 2% by 2028.

Importantly, the refinery’s diesel output will not be affected during the upgrade period, as Panipat has additional diesel hydroprocessing units to maintain normal operations.

In addition to the Panipat project, IOC is also considering upgrading kerosene-producing units at other refineries to expand SAF production. These efforts highlight India’s growing commitment to sustainable aviation and its broader energy transition goals.

HAMR Energy announced on July 28 that it plans to develop Australia’s first large-scale methanol-to-sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility following the successful completion of a feasibility study, with an estimated project investment of AUD$700 million to AUD$800 million (approximately US$455 million to US$520 million). The project is a key component of HAMR Energy’s strategy to respond to new regulations in the international aviation industry that progressively allow the use of methanol as a feedstock for SAF.

HAMR plans to convert 300,000 tons of low-carbon methanol produced from forestry residues and hydrogen at its Portland-based renewable fuels project into approximately 125 million liters of SAF, which could support approximately 3.5 million carbon-neutral flights per year for economy class passengers between Sydney and Melbourne. The scalability and versatility of methanol as a feedstock for renewable fuels will help alleviate the projected global supply gap of 10 million tons of SAF by 2030, the company said.

South Australia and Victoria were identified as ideal locations based on research, and HAMR’s vertically integrated “biomass-to-fuel” model reduces production costs, making it attractive to airlines looking to lock in a long-term supply of low-carbon fuel.

Company co-founder David Stribble emphasizes Australia’s potential to develop a world-leading low carbon liquid fuels industry that will not only attract significant investment, but also contribute to regional employment and national energy security. HAMR is currently nearing completion of its A$10 million Series A funding round and has the attention of a number of strategic partners.

According to Reuters in Singapore, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has intensified its criticism of the European Union’s (EU) mandatory sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) policy. At a recent media roundtable, IATA Director General Willie Walsh stated that the EU’s approach is not only costly but also ineffective in delivering real environmental benefits, especially given the current limited availability of SAF.

Walsh emphasized that transporting SAF from other regions to Europe increases logistics costs and carbon emissions, undermining the environmental purpose. “Mandating the use of a product that is not available will not yield any environmental gain,” he said.

He also warned that the EU policy distorts the market, effectively encouraging monopolistic behavior among suppliers. According to Walsh, companies obligated to produce SAF are using the mandate to inflate the price of conventional jet fuel, ultimately passing the burden onto airlines and passengers without delivering meaningful sustainability outcomes.

Walsh called on the EU to reassess its sustainability goals and adopt more balanced, effective policies, particularly in the areas of agriculture and fuel supply chains.

EcoCeres Inc., based in Hong Kong, has recently issued a position paper highlighting the importance of fairness, effectiveness, and anti-fraud measures in the EU’s sustainable biofuel certification framework. As Europe accelerates its transition to renewable energy, ensuring the integrity and transparency of sustainability claims has become more crucial than ever. The paper calls for practical, transparent, and universally recognized verification mechanisms to uphold market credibility, support environmental goals, and build trust among consumers and industry stakeholders.

Key highlights include support for EU biofuel verification reforms with an emphasis on fair and anti-fraud measures; a call for uniform rules for both EU and non-EU producers and feedstocks; a warning against overly burdensome controls that may disrupt limited-supply products like SAF; a push for stakeholder-inclusive processes; and a recommendation to enhance the EU biofuel database (UDB) for better traceability.

On July 10, XCF Global Inc. announced a major strategic plan to invest nearly $1 billion over the next three years to develop multiple sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facilities in the United States, further expanding its influence in the clean energy sector and advancing its global growth strategy.

Since its inception, XCF has invested over $350 million in its New Rise Reno facility in Reno, Nevada, creating approximately 60 full-time jobs, demonstrating its ability to drive large-scale SAF commercialization. The expansion plan will add three new facilities with an annual production capacity of 40 million gallons each, located in Florida, North Carolina, and Nevada. These facilities are expected to come online between 2027 and 2028, bringing the total production capacity to 160 million gallons annually.

With over 2 billion people worldwide living in regions with SAF policy incentives, and projections indicating this number will grow to 4 billion by 2030, XCF is accelerating its international expansion. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Continual Renewable Ventures to establish the New Rise Australia platform in Australia, replicating its patented modular design and multi-fuel production model.

CEO Mihir Dange stated that the company is advancing aviation decarbonization through a “technology + capital + speed” integrated model, while delivering tangible returns for investors.

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On July 8, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Airlines (JAL), and engineering firm JGC Holdings Corp. held a ceremony at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to mark the official launch of domestically produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply in Japan. The event represents a significant step toward decarbonizing the nation’s aviation sector.

The SAF used was made from waste cooking oil collected in cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and was supplied to an ANA passenger aircraft. At the ceremony, ANA President Shinichi Inoue stated that the introduction of domestic SAF at Haneda Airport marks an important milestone in the aviation industry’s path toward carbon neutrality.

JGC President and Chairman Masayuki Sato emphasized the company’s commitment to expanding its SAF initiatives.

In fact, a joint venture established by JGC and other partners began supplying domestically produced SAF to ANA and JAL flights at Haneda as early as May. Looking ahead, the joint venture plans to expand supply to other international airlines operating in Japan, including U.S.-based Delta Air Lines, promoting wider use of eco-friendly aviation fuel.

On July 1, Bangkok Airways announced the continued expansion of its “Fly Net Zero with Bangkok Airways” initiative by formally incorporating Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into more of its commercial flights, aiming to significantly reduce carbon emissions from its operations.

Since 2024, the airline has been conducting SAF trial flights on the Samui–Bangkok route. It is now scaling up the program to include international routes departing from Suvarnabhumi Airport to destinations such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Luang Prabang, and the Maldives.

The SAF used in these flights is a 1% SAF and 99% Jet A-1 blend. Each flight using this fuel mix is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 128 kilograms, demonstrating Bangkok Airways’ commitment to environmental sustainability and emission reduction.

According to Turkey’s Aawsat news outlet, the country is considering implementing a mandatory 5% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending requirement by 2030.

To support this policy, domestic refiners such as Tupras and Socar will be required to produce SAF, as 90% of the blended fuel is expected to be used for flights departing from Turkish airports.

Earlier this year, Tupras announced its goal to reach an annual SAF production capacity of 20,000 tons by 2026. Local biofuel producer DB Tarimsal Enerji also plans to produce 100,000 tons of SAF annually.

British Airways has become the first airline to utilize sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced at commercial scale in the UK, marking a major milestone in the country’s push toward greener air travel. The SAF was supplied by Phillips 66’s Humber Refinery as part of a multi-year agreement between the two companies, underscoring their shared commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector.

The partnership was announced by SAF Investor, which noted that this collaboration represents a significant achievement not only for the airline but also for domestic fuel production. Darren Cunningham, General Manager of the Humber Refinery and CEO of Phillips 66 UK, commented, “Phillips 66 Humber Refinery is proud to supply British Airways with sustainable aviation fuel. This strategic partnership and supply agreement affirm both companies’ commitment to a low-carbon future.”

British Airways Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle echoed this sentiment, saying, “Being the first airline to procure sustainable aviation fuel produced at commercial scale in the UK is another breakthrough moment for us and the aviation industry. We are committed to using SAF to help power our flights and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.”

The SAF supplied under this agreement will be blended with traditional jet fuel and used to power flights from British Airways’ operations, contributing to the airline’s broader sustainability goals. The move also highlights the importance of domestic production capacity in building a more resilient and environmentally sustainable fuel supply chain.

This collaboration sets a new precedent for the UK aviation industry, showcasing how partnerships between airlines and fuel producers can play a vital role in accelerating the transition to lower-carbon air travel.