India SAF Conclave 2026 to focus on global partnerships and aviation’s Net Zero transition

The second edition of the India Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Conclave will be held in New Delhi from September 28, bringing together domestic and international stakeholders to discuss scaling sustainable aviation fuel production, strengthening global partnerships and advancing the aviation industry's transition towards Net Zero emissions.

Organised by the SAF Association, the two-day event will focus on large-scale SAF capacity-building initiatives, technical programmes and industry collaboration aligned with the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Net Zero by 2050 target, according to the organisers.

The conclave comes at a time when governments, airlines and energy companies are exploring pathways to decarbonise aviation, one of the most challenging sectors to transition away from fossil fuels.

Industry leaders to discuss SAF ecosystem development

According to the organisers, the conclave is expected to attract participation from leading Indian and international airlines, airports, energy companies, technology developers, investors and financial institutions.

The event aims to facilitate:

• Investment opportunities across the SAF value chain
• Technology partnerships and collaborations
• Project matchmaking between industry stakeholders
• Access to international markets and buyers
• Discussions on policy, infrastructure and production capacity

Rohit Kumar, Secretary General of SAF Association and CMAI, said India has the potential to emerge as a major global SAF producer but requires coordinated efforts across multiple stakeholders.

"India has the opportunity to become a global SAF hub, but this will require an ecosystem, not just a mandate. At SAF Association, our focus is to bring government, industry, technology, finance and global partners together to turn India's SAF ambition into projects, investment and production. The India SAF Conclave is a key platform in that journey," Kumar said in the release.

Programme to cover policy, technology and investment

The organisers said the conclave's agenda will span policy discussions, technical knowledge-sharing and business engagement.

Key components of the programme include:

• Ministerial sessions
• Technical conferences
• Capacity-building workshops
• Investor and buyer forums
• Leadership roundtables
• Business-to-business (B2B) meetings
• Business-to-government (B2G) engagements
• Technology showcases
• Industry exhibitions
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signings

The broad agenda reflects growing interest in creating commercially viable SAF ecosystems that connect fuel producers, airlines, investors, regulators and technology providers.

India's long-term production potential in focus

The event will also highlight India's potential role in the global sustainable aviation fuel market.

According to global studies cited by the organisers, India could produce around 40 million tonnes of SAF annually by 2050, representing roughly 10% of global SAF production potential.

Industry stakeholders view the country as a promising market due to its large agricultural base, growing aviation sector and increasing focus on energy transition initiatives.

As governments and aviation companies seek practical pathways to reduce carbon emissions, the conclave is expected to serve as a platform for advancing discussions around production capacity, financing mechanisms and international cooperation.