Iceland’s Ambassador to India, Bendikt Hoskuldsson, has urged for immediate action on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for India’s fast-growing aviation sector, stressing that collaborative efforts are essential for decarbonising air travel.
Time for Solutions is Now
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the India SAF Conclave 2026, the Ambassador stressed that collaborative efforts remain essential for decarbonising air travel and advancing clean aviation technologies. “India is the fastest-growing market in the world. You are the biggest populous country in the world. So your aviation industry is going to move and grow really fast. So the time to bring the solutions to the table is now. They’re not in the distant future; they’re now. So, but that only happens through partnering with different stakeholders such as us and others,” Hoskuldsson said.
Sharing Expertise, Not Replicating Models
He also shared that Iceland’s national carrier, Icelandair, is already carrying out trials to produce SAF for its fleet and seeking to scale up operational adoption. He stated that while one nation’s model cannot be replicated entirely, shared technical expertise helps address localised requirements. “We don’t have solutions that you can copy-paste. That’s not how we approach this. We approach this as you have different tasks, you have different challenges, and we can bring our experiences and expertise to those,” he said.
Iceland’s Clean Technology Capabilities
He noted that Iceland’s clean technology capabilities, particularly around carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, provide a viable pathway for producing sustainable fuels. He explained that commercial experience in this segment can aid international partners seeking alternatives. “Iceland has already achieved quite a lot of the goals that we have set in terms of addressing the climate issues that we have as a country. I think the biggest issue, when it comes to aviation fuel is, you know, there are different ways that you can reach e-methanols or e-fuels. What we are offering is the carbon capture, use and storage technologies. We’ve been doing it commercially for over 20 years,” he said.
Bilateral Frameworks for Collaboration
The Ambassador underlined that bilateral economic mechanisms provide an immediate framework for such engagements. He referenced the trade pact between India and the four-nation European Free Trade Association, which includes Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, as a vehicle to tap joint industrial opportunities.
“We have to bring together the right stakeholders to address this issue. And so what we can do is we can bring our experiences which are over 20 years old in this space and we stand ready to do that,” Hoskuldsson said. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)