2023-10-03 16:20:00
(Agence Ecofin) – At a time when pressure to reduce carbon emissions is intensifying, several oil companies are trying to diversify their range of products. The Italian group Eni thus has great ambitions in the biofuels segment in Africa.
The Italian energy group Eni wants to increase its vegetable oil production capacity in Africa to nearly 700,000 tonnes by 2026 to strengthen its biofuel offer. According to Guido Brusco, general director of natural resources of the company, this project should mobilize a total investment of $735 million.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg, the official indicates that the envelope will be used to finance construction projects for oilseed crushing plants in 5 countries on the continent. In details, the Italian company hopes to have a capacity of at least 200,000 tonnes in Kenya and the Republic of Congo, 100,000 tonnes in Mozambique and Angola and 50,000 tonnes in Ivory Coast during the period. considered.
According to Mr. Brusco, this program should benefit more than 700,000 small farmers and favored oilseed crops, including castor, will be developed over a total area of 1.2 million hectares.
Overall, this project is part of a strategy of the Italian company which wishes to obtain around 25% of its raw material needs for the production of biofuels from Africa by 2025. These are estimated to more than 3 million tonnes of vegetable oil.
It should be noted that Eni already operates biorefineries in Sicily and Venice. In Africa, the Italian group has operated since 2022 a vegetable oil extraction unit with a processing capacity of 15,000 tonnes of oilseeds in Makueni county in Kenya.
Stéphanas Assocle
Also read:
03/10/2023 – Kenya: Nyeri County wants to set up a $3.4 million agro-industrial park by 2025
07/21/2022 – Kenya: the Italian company Eni launches an oilseed crushing plant for energy purposes
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