**Eni Awaits Final Regulatory Approvals for Livorno Biorefinery Project: A Key Step in Italy’s Sustainable Energy Transition**
Eni, the Italian energy giant, is poised to move forward with its ambitious Livorno biorefinery project, pending the issuance of final regulatory approvals. This proposed transformation of an idle conventional crude oil refinery in Livorno, Tuscany, into Italy’s third biorefinery marks a significant milestone in Eni’s decarbonization strategy aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The project, first announced in 2022 and followed by an environmental impact assessment submitted in November 2022, involves the construction of three new biorefining plants. These facilities will be designed to process various biogenic feedstocks, primarily vegetable waste and residues, to produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel, HVO naphtha, and bio-LPG. This production setup aligns with the European Renewable Energy Directive, ensuring the biofuels comply with EU sustainability goals.
The environmental impact assessment, which included inputs from the Italian Ministry of Culture, the National Institute of Health, and Tuscany’s regional government, has already secured approval from Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MOEES). However, Eni needs the final single authorization and related building permit from MOEES in consultation with local authorities. This final hurdle follows previous project approvals granted by the mentioned regulatory bodies.
Eni has already begun on-site preparatory work for the construction phase, which will officially commence upon receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals. Once operational, the Livorno biorefinery will join Eni’s broader efforts to increase its bio-refining capacity from 1.65 million tons per year to over 5 million tons by 2030. This expansion is part of Eni’s commitment to sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Key components of the Livorno biorefinery project include:
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