Topsoe, 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 Corporation Limited (BPCL), an Indian public sector oil and gas company, to provide its Kerosene Hydrotreating Technology for co-processing for SAF production at BPCL’s Mumbai Refinery.
Topsoe and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) have signed licensing agreement. From left: Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Director Aviation at BPCL, Alok Verma, Managing Director Asia Pacific at Topsoe, Sankar M, Executive Director Mumbai Refinery at BPCL, Anurag Saraogi, Executive Director Bio-Fuels at BPCL. Image Credit: Topsoe
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 achieved 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 towards 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 towards 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 towards building a robust domestic SAF ecosystem, strengthening India’s energy security and enabling a cleaner and more sustainable future for air transport.”
About Kerosene Hydrotreating Technology
Topsoe’s co-processing solution uses kerosene hydrotreating infrastructure to produce SAF by replacing a portion of conventional feedstock with renewable feedstock. Up to 5% renewable feedstock can be co-processed in an existing kerosene hydrotreater, providing a fast-track route to SAF production without major modifications to the refinery.