Five different agreements confirm Angola's central role in Eni's integrated sustainable development strategy
Today Eni's Chief Executive Officer Claudio Descalzi and representatives of the Angolan Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a series of other agreements that range from local development to renewable energies, from health to hydrocarbon exploration and which are part of the development strategy to long-term Eni, which combines traditional business with the commitment to diversified and sustainable growth in the areas in which it operates.
The Protocol provides for the development of energy access projects, economic diversification, life on land (protection and expansion of forests), access to safe water and sanitation, access to public health services and education. Priority area of intervention will be the enclave of Cabinda, in the north of the country, in which a positive impact is expected on at least 180.000 people, with the creation of approximately 6.500 jobs and generating a capacity to reduce CO2 emissions equal to approximately 380 kt per year. This integrated development program (Local Development Program, LDP) was designed within the Angola National Development Plan, the National Determined Contributions (Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs, the climate objectives that each Nation has set itself in the field of of the Paris Agreements to help limit the rise in global temperature) and contribute to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the country's 2030 Agenda.
Eni and the Government of Angola have also signed the Concession Agreement for a photovoltaic plant from 50 MWp in the province of Namibe, where Eni supports rural development projects, and connected to the transmission grid in the south of the country. The plant will be built by Solenova, a joint venture between ENI and Sonangol dedicated to the development of renewable energy projects. This initiative is in line with Angola's strategy in the electricity sector, aimed at promoting renewable energy to reduce diesel consumption, operating costs and associated CO2 emissions. The implementation of the first phase of the project from 25 MWp will allow a reduction in diesel consumption estimated at around 13,500 cubic meters per year, the reduction of electricity production costs and greenhouse gas emissions equal to approximately 20000 tCO2eq / year.
In addition, Eni and the Angolan Ministry of Health have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the specialized services of selected hospitals by investing in the development of human resources and in improving quality standards. The project, which is one of the components of the Local Development Program, involves the selection of qualified Angolan personnel within health facilities in Luanda and the province of Cabinda, the development of skills in the fields of cardiac surgery, nephrology, child nephrology, pediatric neurology , hematology / pediatric oncology, infectious diseases, nutrition, female health, child care, epidemiology, and a close collaboration between Angolan health institutions and those of Italian excellence, through job training and telemedicine. The direct beneficiaries of the project will be approximately 200 between medical, paramedical and technical personnel of the various institutions involved, with a positive impact on the country by improving the quality of the health service. This project is in line with the objectives of sustainable development of the United Nations (SDG).
Finally, Eni and the National Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) signed contracts for the acquisition of mineral rights on the 1/14 offshore block, which sees Eni as operator with 35%, in consortium with Equinor ( 30%), Sonangol P&P (25%) and Acrep (10%), and on the onshore block Cabinda centro, which sees Eni operator with 42.5%, ExxonMobil with 32.5%, and Sonangol P&P with 25%.
The agreements were signed between ENI and a delegation of representatives of Angolan institutions formed by the Minister of Mineral and Oil Resources Diamantino Azevedo, by the Minister of Energy and Water João Baptista Borges, of the Minister of Health Sílvia Lutucuta, by the President of the ANPG Board of Directors Paulino Fernando de Carvalho Jerónimo and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sonangol Sebastião Pai Querido Gaspar Martins.
Angola remains a key country for Eni's organic growth strategy. The company has been present in the country since the 1980, and today has an equity production equal to 145.000 barrels of oil equivalent / day.