Page 10 - DMEA Week 30 2021

DMEA FUEL DMEA

Eni, Kenya sign MoU on

biofuel processing capacity

AFRICA ITALY’S Eni is moving forward with plans for of a collection system for used cooking oil (UCO)
the development of biofuel processing capacity and “other agro-processing residues.”
in Kenya. Last week, the company revealed in Meanwhile, it stated, the agricultural projects
a statement that it had signed a memorandum will emphasise the development of low-ILUC
of understanding (MoU) with Kenya’s Minis- (indirect land use change) oil crop cultivation.
try of Petroleum and Mining on “[promoting] These crops might include castor for growth on
the decarbonisation process to tackle climate degraded land, croton trees at agro-forestry sites
change through new industrial models of ful- “and other agro-industrial co-products,” the
ly-integrated circular economy along the whole statement said.
bio-fuel production value chain.” Eni pointed out that the projects mentioned
According to the statement, the MoU pro- in the MoU would benefit Kenya by diversifying
vides for the parties to assess the prospects for the country’s energy mix, reducing dependence
converting an existing oil-processing plant in on imported petroleum products and support-
Mombasa into a bio-refinery. ing overall decarbonisation efforts.
It also lays the groundwork for the joint “Other expected benefits include developing
construction of a newbuild facility that will sustainable agricultural activities and circular
use waste biomass to produce second-gener- economy, producing power from renewable
ation bio-ethanol using Eni’s Ecofining and sources, fostering the economic competitiveness
Proesa®technologies. of the local industry and creating new jobs,” it
Additionally, Eni and the ministry will con- said.
duct joint feasibility studies “to develop waste Additionally, it commented, the projects
and residue collection as well as agricultural are in line with the Paris Agreement on climate
projects, with the purpose of establishing a wide change, the UN’s Sustainable Development
range of feedstock sources that do not compete Goals and Eni’s own commitments to reduce its
with food cycles.” emissions, double bio-refining capacity by 2024
These feedstock sources may eventually be and become palm-oil free by 2023.
used to supply Eni’s bio-refineries in Gela and Moreover, they will promote Kenya’s imple-
Venice, Italy, the statement said. mentation of its national bio-energy strategy and
It went on to say that waste and residue collec- national development plans, including the Kenya
tion would involve the promotion and execution Vision 2030 programme.™

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 30 29•July•2021