Praj Industries said it has successfully demonstrated its Ethanol-to-Jet (EtJ) process utilizing Axens JetanolTM technology at its Integrated Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) demonstration plant at Praj Matrix, its research and development centre. The achievement marks a key step in the move toward lower-emission fuels for aviation.
The announcement was made at Wings India 2026 by Maneesh Kumar, Joint Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in the presence of DGCA Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai. The demonstration was highlighted during a roundtable discussion on SAF chaired by Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, with participation from industry stakeholders. Praj was represented by Atul Mulay, President of its Bioenergy Business, while Axens was represented by Siddharth Saha, Managing Director of Axens India.
The SAF demonstration plant was earlier inaugurated by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. Praj said the facility has now shown it is ready to operate across both Alcohol-to-Jet pathways. After earlier success using bio-isobutanol as a raw material, the plant has now confirmed that bio-ethanol can also be used under the Ethanol-to-Jet process. This, the company said, strengthens its ability to work with different raw materials for SAF production.
Axens, which provides technologies and services for cleaner fuels, has partnered with Praj on the project. Axens has licensed its Jetanol™ Alcohol-to-Jet technology to Praj, along with related catalysts and technical support.
With this development, Praj said it has become the first company globally to offer a fully integrated technology solution for the Alcohol-to-Jet route using both ethanol and isobutanol. The process has been tested at demonstration scale and is now ready for commercial use. The fuel produced meets international aviation standards and can be used in existing aircraft engines and infrastructure.
Praj has earlier supported India’s first commercial passenger flight using SAF-blended fuel. An AirAsia India flight from Pune to New Delhi operated using SAF produced by Praj in partnership with Indian Oil.
Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, said the company is focused on developing scalable solutions to reduce emissions from aviation while supporting energy security and climate goals. He said Praj is prepared to work with oil companies and ethanol producers through flexible project models, including additions to existing facilities and new projects, to speed up SAF production.
Quentin Debuisschert, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Axens, said the successful demonstration of the Ethanol-to-Jet process is an important step for the SAF supply chain. He said the partnership combines Praj’s engineering strengths with Axens’ technology to support reliable and scalable SAF production.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is widely seen as an important way to reduce emissions from flying. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global demand for SAF could rise to more than 500 million tonnes, or about 600 billion litres. IATA has said that technology readiness and production capacity will be critical, as sufficient raw materials are available worldwide.
The importance of joint industry efforts was highlighted by a memorandum of understanding signed between Praj Industries, IATA and the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA). The agreement focuses on certification and wider use of SAF in India, including a full assessment of emissions from SAF made using Indian sugarcane-based ethanol.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist, said SAF is central to aviation’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions and will require faster scale-up supported by policy clarity, available raw materials and technology development.
Deepak Ballani, Director General of ISMA, said India has strong potential to produce SAF, especially through the Alcohol-to-Jet route linked to the country’s ethanol programme. He said studies show India could produce several billion litres of SAF each year from bioethanol, helping meet domestic demand and build export capacity, provided there is long-term policy support.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously said India has become the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market and is seeing rapid progress in connectivity, innovation and sustainability. Praj said the successful Ethanol-to-Jet demonstration, combined with supportive policies and industry cooperation, strengthens the path toward wider SAF use and cleaner aviation.
