Eni and Saipem Forge Partnership for Biorefinery Development, Advancing Sustainable Fuel Production

Eni and Saipem have recently entered into a partnership aimed at advancing biorefining technology. This collaboration, formalized on November 6 through an agreement signed by Giuseppe Ricci, Eni’s Chief Operating Officer for Energy Evolution, and Alessandro Puliti, CEO of Saipem, is set to revolutionize the traditional refinery sector and foster the growth of new Eni biorefineries. Aligned with both companies’ commitment to decarbonization, the agreement focuses on the exploration and potential establishment of facilities dedicated to producing sustainable aviation fuel, biojet, and HVO diesel – a biofuel made entirely from renewable sources in compliance with the EU Directive 2018/2001 “REDII”.

HVO diesel, marketed by Eni under the brand name HVOlution, is versatile, suitable for road, naval, and rail transport. This partnership will leverage Eni’s proprietary Ecofining technology, which has already been successfully implemented in converting two conventional refineries into biorefineries in Venice Porto Marghera and Gela, Sicily. These facilities now process waste feedstocks like used cooking oil, animal fats, and residues from the agro-food industry, utilizing Ecofining technology. Saipem’s role in this initiative is crucial, bringing its unique design and construction expertise to the table, having already contributed to the success of the projects in Venice and Gela.