The export of vegetable oil from Kenya for biorefining is underway

The cargo left from the port of Mombasa is the first from Africa

The first cargo of vegetable oil for biorefining produced by Eni in Kenya it departed from the port of Mombasa, directed to the Gela biorefinery. This is how the transport and logistics system that will support the value chain in the country is launched, starting with a production of 2.500 tons by the end of 2022, and then rapidly rising to 20.000 tons in 2023.

The vegetable oil is produced in the Makueni agri-hub, the plant inaugurated by the company in July 2022, where the pressing of castor, croton and cotton seeds takes place. They are agri-feedstocks not in competition with the food supply chain, grown in degraded areas, harvested from spontaneous trees or resulting from the enhancement of agricultural by-products, offering income opportunities and market access to thousands of farmers. In addition, the center also produces feed and bio-fertilizers, derived from the protein component of the seeds, for the benefit of livestock production, thus contributing to food security.

“Just three months after the Makueni startup, the export of vegetable oil for biorefineries begins, through a model of vertical integration that allows promoting sustainable local development and enhancing the supply chain for the production of biofuels. These are the seeds of a new energy, a concrete step to decarbonise transport with an innovative approach that, starting with the production of Kenya, will extend next year to the Congo, and subsequently to the other African countries and the geographical areas where we are bringing. ahead of these projects ”, said Claudio Descalzi, Eni's Chief Executive Officer. 

Eni Kenya, its supply chain and all developed agri-feedstocks are certified according to the ISCC-EU (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) sustainability scheme, one of the main voluntary standards recognized by the European Commission for the certification of biofuels (RED II). Eni was the first company in the world to certify castor and croton and to allow an African cotton mill to achieve these guarantee standards, offering new market opportunities to local farmers for this raw material.

The company launched the project in Kenya in 2021, following the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Kenyan institutions. The initiative provides for the construction of other agri-hubs, with the second one that will start operating as early as 2023, and the increase in production with the involvement of tens of thousands of farmers, significantly contributing to promoting the country's rural development. and the creation of long-term value. In addition to vegetable oil, Eni also plans to export used cooking oil (UCO) collected in hotel chains, restaurants and bars in Nairobi, through an already launched project that promotes the culture of recycling, raising awareness among operators economic benefits on the environmental and health benefits of the correct disposal of waste oils, generating income from waste.

Kenya is leading the way for Eni's initiatives in the agro-industrial chain, which currently include Congo, Mozambique, Angola, Ivory Coast, Benin, Rwanda and Kazakhstan. For these countries, as well as for Italy, feasibility studies have been launched with the aim of conducting a first phase of agricultural activity in the more mature realities starting from 2022, and then proceeding with the construction of seed squeezing plants. for biorefining.

The first load of vegetable oil is destined for the Eni biorefinery in Gela. Launched in 2019, with an authorized capacity of 750 thousand tons / year, it is among the most innovative plants in Europe and has a high operational flexibility, managing to handle different types of charges. By 2025, the company aims to cover 35% of the supply of its biorefineries thanks to the vertical integration of the agri-feedstock and waste & residue supply chain, which will allow it to ensure volumes of vegetable oil in a challenging context in terms of prices. growing demand for energy and availability of sustainable oils.  

The export of vegetable oil from Kenya for biorefining is underway

| Economics |