Ron Kotrba
Nov 9, 20212 min
Italian renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer Eni S.p.A. is continuing its quest to reduce emissions and secure feedstock supplies from Africa for its converted petroleum refineries that are now biorefineries. In early November, Claudio Descalzi, CEO, met with the presidents of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and Rwanda, Paul Kagame, to discuss possible collaborations.
In Mozambique, Descalzi and Nyusi “discussed opportunities in the agro-industrial chain, focused on the valorization of agricultural waste and the cultivation of oleaginous plants that do not impact on food production,” the company stated. “These would be converted into premium biofuels thanks to proprietary technology in Eni’s biorefineries. The initiatives would ensure job creation and allow farmers direct access to market.”
The two also got up to speed on the status of Eni forestry initiatives in Mozambique, “including the REDD+ assessment to protect and conserve forests across an area of over 3 million hectares on the great Limpopo trans frontier conservation area, in Mozambique, which Eni started in August 2021,” Eni stated. “Through this REDD+ project, Eni will be able to progressively achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions for its equity share in the Mozambican upstream projects and potentially supply the Coral South project with the carbon credits needed to reach the carbon neutrality. REDD+ projects have a significant impact in terms of community benefits and on biodiversity protection, in addition to GHG emissions reductions.”
In Rwanda, Descalzi and Kagame met to talk about possible collaboration in energy transition and a regional approach to circular economy. According to Eni, they “discussed how to leverage Rwanda’s strong agricultural expertise with projects in the agro-industrial chain, such as cultivating crops to produce agrofeedstock for biorefining. Other topics of discussion included joint research and development initiatives in the fields of energy transition, and possible investments in the area of forestry conservation and the protection of endangered species.”
The conferences with Nyusi and Kagame are part of Eni’s strategic approach to achieving net-zero emissions. Descalzi recently met with several other leaders of African nations and signed agreements with Angola and Congo.