Government notifies amendment to ATF (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001

The government has notified an amendment to the Aviation Turbine Fuel Regulation of Marketing Order, 2001 (ATF Control Order). The move is aimed at bringing aviation turbine fuel (ATF) blended with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) under the ATF Control Order. SAF is a renewable fuel that is derived from alternative feedstocks including crops, biogenic residues and waste materials. It can drive significant greenhouse gas emission reductions. SAF comprises specially processed, aviation-grade hydrocarbons that are chemically similar to ATF and fully compatible with aircraft engines, without affecting the nature, safety or performance of aviation fuel. The amendment expands the definition of ATF from a petroleum-based fuel meeting BIS specifications to include SAF co-processed alongside ATF in accordance with IS 1571 specifications in petroleum refineries, and SAF conforming to IS 17081 blended with ATF, meeting IS 1571 specifications. Moreover, indicative SAF blending targets have already been announced for international flights at 1 per cent by 2027, 2 per cent by 2028 and 5 per cent by 2030.