**Eni Puneches Forward with Livorno Biorefinery Project**
Italian energy giant Eni SPA is poised to embark on a significant initiative in its decarbonization strategy. The company is awaiting the final regulatory approvals to proceed with the construction of its third biorefinery in Livorno, Tuscany, Italy. This project marks a crucial step towards Eni’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
### Background and Objectives
Eni’s venture into biorefining began in 2014 with the conversion of its Venice refinery into a biorefinery, followed by the transformation of the Gela refinery on the southern coast of Sicily in 2019. The company’s broader strategy involves increasing its biorefining capacity from the current 1.65 million tonnes per year to over 5 million tonnes per year by 2030, primarily through its Enilive brand.
### Project Details
The Livorno biorefinery project involves the construction of three new facilities:
1. **Biogenic Feedstock Pretreatment Unit**: This unit will transform waste raw materials, residues, and waste resulting from vegetable products and oils into renewable feedstock.
2. **500,000 Tons Per Year Ecofining Plant**: This plant will utilize Eni’s proprietary Ecofining technology to produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and other advanced biofuels from 100% biofeedstocks.
3. **Hydrogen Production Facility**: This facility will produce hydrogen from methane gas, enhancing Eni’s effort in creating a sustainable energy ecosystem.
### Regulatory Approval Process
The project has already received input from various stakeholders, including the National Institute of Health and the regional government of Tuscany, following an Environmental Impact Assessment submitted in November 2022. The Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, has confirmed approval for the project. However, Eni is awaiting the final single authorization and related