Eni signs MOU with Côte d’Ivoire to promote sustainable-ag initiatives for energy transition

Eni, through its subsidiary Eni Natural Energies, announced May 28 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the West African nation Côte d’Ivoire to explore new opportunities for collaboration in the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors for the production of vegetable oil for biorefining use.

In particular, the agreement aims to enhance the rubber (hevea) supply chain and to assess the introduction of oilseed crops on marginal and degraded lands, thereby contributing to the country’s sustainable-agricultural development without competing with food production and the forest ecosystem.

The MOU was signed during the Salon International de l’Agriculture et des Ressources Animales, currently taking place at the Parc des Expositions in Abidjan.

The signing ceremony was attended by the minister of agriculture, Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, and the managing director of Eni Natural Energies Côte d’Ivoire, Luca Faccenda.

During the event, the parties highlighted the positive impact of the project already launched by Eni Natural Energies Côte d’Ivoire in collaboration with the Federation of Rubber Producers of Côte d’Ivoire (FPH-CI).

This project is enabling the valorization of rubber residues—a crop widely cultivated in the country—by transforming them into raw materials for biofuel production, generating economic and social benefits for thousands of farmers.

Eni has been present in Côte d’Ivoire since 2015 with hydrocarbon exploration and production activities.

In 2024, Eni established Eni Natural Energies Côte d’Ivoire, a company dedicated to developing sustainable supply chains of agricultural raw materials for the company’s biorefineries.

The initiative is part of Eni’s strategy for sustainable mobility and, according to the company, its broader commitment to supporting “fair and inclusive growth” in line with the objectives of Côte d’Ivoire’s national development plan.