Topsoe has agreed to license its kerosene hydrotreating technology to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) for sustainable aviation fuel production at the Indian company’s Mumbai refinery. Hydrocarbon Processing Biofuels reported that the agreement covers co-processing renewable material with conventional feedstock, allowing BPCL to produce SAF using equipment already within its refinery rather than building a separate production unit.
The project involves modifying BPCL’s existing kerosene hydrotreater, which has a capacity of 4,000 metric tonnes per day. Following the revamp, the unit will co-process a feedstock mix containing 5% renewable material in the form of used cooking oil. The reported capacity refers to the existing hydrotreater; the source does not give a separate figure for the volume of SAF that the modified facility will produce.
The investment has reached a final investment decision and work on the conversion is already under way, according to Hydrocarbon Processing Biofuels. Commissioning is expected by the end of 2026. The licensing agreement extends a relationship between Topsoe and BPCL, an Indian public sector oil and gas company, that has lasted around two decades.
The resulting SAF is intended for airlines refuelling international passenger flights at Indian airports. The project forms part of India’s development of a domestic SAF supply system ahead of mandatory compliance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, or CORSIA, in 2027, the outlet reported.
India has committed to SAF blending targets for international flights of 1% in 2027, rising to 2% in 2028 and 5% in 2030. BPCL’s planned commissioning date falls ahead of the first of those targets, with the Mumbai project using a refinery revamp as its route to SAF production.