Page 8 - AfrElec Week 30 2021

AfrElec BIOFUELS AfrElec

Eni, Kenyan Ministry of Petroleum sign

MoU on biofuel processing capacity

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

P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 30 29•July•2021