**Eni Awaits Final Regulatory Approvals for Livorno Biorefinery Project**
Italian energy giant Eni is poised to commence the construction of its third biorefinery in Livorno, Tuscany, pending the issuance of final regulatory approvals. This transformative project aims to convert the existing 84,000-barrels-per-day (b/d) conventional crude oil refinery, which has been idled, into a cutting-edge biorefinery.
Eni has begun preparatory works on-site and is awaiting the final single-authorization and related building permit from Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MOEES) in collaboration with local authorities. This authorization follows previous project approvals granted by the MOEES, the Italian National Institute of Health, and Tuscany’s regional government based on an environmental impact assessment submitted by Eni in November 2022.
The Livorno biorefinery project was approved for the final investment decision (FID) by Eni in January 2024. Upon completion, the biorefinery will feature three new biorefining plants designed to process various biogenic feedstocks—mainly vegetable waste and residues—into renewable fuels. These facilities will produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel, HVO naphtha, and bio-Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
The new facilities will include:
1. **Biogenic Feedstock Pretreatment Unit**: To transform waste raw materials and residues into renewable feedstocks.
2. **Ecofining Plant**: A 500,000-ton/year production unit utilizing Eni-Honeywell UOP LLC’s proprietary Ecofining technology for flexible processing of 100% biofeedstocks. This plant will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
3. **Hydrogen Production Plant**: To generate hydrogen from methane gas, enhancing the overall sustainability of the operation