Topsoe A/S (Lyngby, Denmark), a leading global provider of advanced energy transition solutions for producing clean and conventional fuels and chemicals, has signed a licensing agreement with Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (BPCL; Mumbai, India), an Indian public sector oil and gas company, to provide its kerosene hydrotreating technology for co-processing for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production at BPCL’s Mumbai Refinery.
Under the agreement, BPCL will revamp its existing 4,000-metric-tons-per-day kerosene hydrotreater unit to co-process 5% renewable feedstock, in the form of used cooking oil, alongside conventional feedstock. Using Topsoe’s kerosene hydrotreating technology, BPCL will produce SAF within its existing refinery infrastructure, without the need for a new dedicated SAF production unit. The project builds on the two-decade-long relationship between Topsoe and BPCL.
Having reached a final investment decision, the facility revamp is already underway, with commissioning expected by the end of 2026.
The SAF produced will be supplied to airlines refueling international passenger flights at Indian airports, as the nation builds its domestic SAF ecosystem ahead of mandatory compliance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) in 2027. India has committed to SAF blending targets of 1% for international flights by 2027, 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030.
Alok Verma, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, at Topsoe, said: “India is an important and growing market for sustainable aviation fuel, and we are pleased to support Bharat Petroleum in taking this step toward increasing its SAF production capacity. This project demonstrates how Topsoe’s technology can provide a practical route for refiners to begin SAF production without significant modifications to existing infrastructure, while at the same time the co-processing of conventional and renewable feedstocks increases flexibility for fuel producers.”
Sankar M, Executive Director, Mumbai Refinery, BPCL, said: “As India advances its journey toward net-zero emissions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 by 2040 and accelerates its energy transition, sustainable aviation fuel will play a pivotal role in decarbonizing the aviation sector. We are pleased to further strengthen our collaboration with Topsoe, whose proven technology will support BPCL in expanding its SAF production capabilities. This project marks an important step toward building a robust domestic SAF ecosystem, strengthening India’s energy security and enabling a cleaner and more sustainable future for air transport.”