Jurgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director for India and South Asia at Airbus, has called for corporate spending on airlines’ voluntary Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) programs to be recognized under the government’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework, reported PTI.
Speaking on Thursday, Westermeier emphasized that such a move would not only help tackle climate change but also unlock significant funding for SAF development, which could be crucial for India’s energy future. According to the companies law, certain profitable entities are required to allocate at least two percent of their annual profit to CSR activities.
Westermeier urged the government to recognize the funds spent by corporates on voluntary SAF contributions as a legitimate CSR expense. “This inclusion would immediately unlock a substantial new pool of capital to support SAF demand, transforming a compliance requirement into a powerful engine for a greener, more sustainable energy future,” he said.
India, one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, has immense potential for producing SAF, which Westermeier believes could also serve as a key economic enabler. He stressed that creating a domestic SAF industry would boost India’s energy security and provide greater control over the nation’s fuel supply chain.
“We need unprecedented collaboration across all stakeholders—government, industry, and academia—to develop this industry,” Westermeier said, adding that the SAF sector would require significant investment. He also highlighted that the SAF value chain could generate 1.1 to 1.4 million jobs and help utilize approximately 230 million tonnes of surplus agricultural residue, making it an economically productive initiative.
Westermeier’s comments come at a time when the global aviation industry is looking for sustainable solutions to reduce its carbon footprint, with SAF emerging as one of the most promising options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
