Praj Industries has successfully demonstrated its Ethanol-to-Jet (EtJ) process using Axens’ Jetanol™ technology at its fully integrated Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) demonstration plant at Praj Matrix, its R&D centre. The milestone strengthens the readiness of Alcohol-to-Jet solutions as aviation moves toward lower-carbon fuel alternatives.
The announcement was made during Wings India 2026, with participation from senior DGCA officials including Maneesh Kumar, Joint Director General, and Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General, during a SAF roundtable chaired by Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Representatives from Praj and Axens, including Atul Mulay (Praj) and Siddharth Saha (Axens India), were present on the panel.
Praj’s integrated SAF plant, earlier inaugurated by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, has now proven its capability for both major Alcohol-to-Jet routes. After earlier validation using bio-isobutanol, the facility has now confirmed bio-ethanol as a viable feedstock under the EtJ pathway—strengthening Praj’s feedstock flexibility and overall SAF technology portfolio.
Axens, a global supplier of cleaner-fuel process technologies and catalysts, has been a long-term partner in Praj’s SAF development. Under the partnership, Axens has licensed the Jetanol™ Alcohol-to-Jet technology, covering key stages such as dehydration, oligomerisation and hydrogenation, along with catalyst support and technical expertise.
With this achievement, Praj said it is now positioned as the first company globally to offer a fully integrated end-to-end engineering and technology package for the AtJ pathway—covering both ethanol and isobutanol routes—validated at demonstration scale and ready for commercial rollout. The technology produces drop-in SAF compliant with ASTM D7566, fully compatible with current aircraft engines and airport fuel systems.
Praj has previously supported real-world SAF adoption in India, including participation in the country’s first commercial passenger flight using SAF-blended aviation turbine fuel, when an AirAsia India flight operated from Pune to New Delhi using SAF developed in collaboration with Indian Oil.
Commenting on the milestone, Dr Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, said the company is focused on science-led solutions for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation, while strengthening energy security. He added that Praj’s integrated SAF platform can be deployed through multiple models, including bolt-on upgrades to existing facilities as well as greenfield projects, helping oil companies and ethanol producers scale SAF output in line with new mandates.
Quentin Debuisschert, CEO and Chairman of Axens, said the EtJ demonstration marks a key step forward for SAF deployment globally, noting that combining Axens’ market-ready process technologies with Praj’s engineering and execution capabilities will help producers adopt scalable, lower-risk SAF production routes.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is increasingly viewed as a primary lever for reducing aviation lifecycle emissions, with airlines and aircraft manufacturers preparing for rapid adoption. According to IATA’s Net Zero Roadmaps, global SAF demand is expected to reach about 500 million tonnes (around 600 billion litres). The sector is also closely tied to international carbon reduction mechanisms including CORSIA. Industry coordination is being strengthened through an MoU signed between Praj Industries, IATA and ISMA, aimed at accelerating SAF certification and adoption in India, including the development of a detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for SAF produced from Indian sugarcane feedstock via the EtJ route.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, said SAF scale-up will require strong policy clarity, stable feedstock supply and faster technology deployment, adding that multi-stakeholder collaboration across the value chain will be critical.
Deepak Ballani, Director General, ISMA, stated that India has significant potential to become a major SAF producer, particularly through the Alcohol-to-Jet route. He referenced national assessments suggesting that AtJ represents India’s largest SAF opportunity and aligns naturally with the growth of the sugar industry after the Ethanol Blending Programme. He also cited findings from the ISMA–Deloitte SAF roadmap, estimating that the sugar sector alone could produce 3.5–4 billion litres of SAF annually from 1G bioethanol, contributing to an overall national potential of 16–19 billion litres by 2040.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a recent address at the IATA Annual General Meeting, highlighted India’s position as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market and underlined the government’s focus on reforms, sustainability and policy support for aviation growth. With policy momentum and technology readiness building together, Praj’s EtJ validation is expected to strengthen the pathway toward wider SAF adoption.
Praj is an Indian industrial biotech company with over four decades of experience, delivering solutions across environment, energy and agri-processing industries. With more than 1,000 customer references across over 100 countries, Praj’s platforms—Bio-Mobility® and Bio-Prism®—support renewable fuels and bio-based chemicals/materials. Praj Matrix is the company’s core R&D facility supporting clean-energy innovation. Praj is listed on the Bombay and National Stock Exchanges.
Axens provides technologies, catalysts and services for cleaner fuels and bio-based feedstock conversion, petrochemical intermediates, chemical recycling, gas treatment, water treatment and carbon capture. The group supports projects across the full lifecycle from feasibility to operations. Axens Jetanol™ is positioned as a leading ethanol-to-jet technology solution, combining proven processing methods with catalyst production and engineering support.
