**Eni Awaits Final Regulatory Approvals for Livorno Biorefinery Project: A Milestone in Decarbonization Efforts**
Eni SPA, a leading player in the energy sector, is poised to make a significant stride in its decarbonization strategy by converting its idled conventional crude oil refinery in Livorno, Tuscany, into Italy’s third biorefinery. The project, which was first announced in October 2022 and subsequently followed by an environmental impact assessment (EIA) request in November 2022, is awaiting the final regulatory approvals to proceed with construction.
### Background and Regulatory Process
The Livorno biorefinery project has been in the making since Eni announced its intentions to transform the industrial site in October 2022. This strategic initiative aligns with Eni’s broader goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and increasing its biorefining capacity from 1.65 million tonnes per year to more than 5 million tonnes per year by 2030.
To date, Eni has received approvals from several major regulatory bodies, including Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MOEES), the Ministry of Culture, the Italian National Institute of Health, and Tuscany’s regional government, based on an environmental impact assessment submitted in November 2022. The approvals have been granted after rigorous evaluations and consultations to ensure the project meets stringent environmental and safety standards.
### Project Overview
Once the final regulatory hurdles are cleared, Eni will initiate formal construction activities. These activities will comprise the construction of three new biorefining plants designed to process various biogenic feedstocks, mainly vegetable waste and residues. The plants will produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel, HVO naphtha, and bio-LPG.
Notably, one of the key facilities will be a 500,000