Refining

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In 2010, refining throughputs were 34.80 mmtonnes, up 0.7% from 2009.
Higher volumes of approximately 160 ktonnes were processed in Italy (up 0.5% from 2009) mainly due to a better performance at the Livorno, Gela and Taranto plants as the trading environment improved from a year ago and optimization of refining cycles was implemented. In addition higher volumes were processed due to the coming on stream of a new hydro-cracking unit in Taranto and lower planned standstills affected the partially-owned Milazzo refinery. These effects were partly offset by the termination of a process contract on the Saras third-party refinery (down 1,966 ktonnes). Eni's refining throughputs outside Italy increased by 1.7% supported by higher refinery throughput in the Czech Republic as a consequence of increased margins and demand recovery.
Total throughputs in wholly-owned refineries were 25.70 mmtonnes, up by approximately 90 mmtonnes (or 1.7%) from 2009, reflecting an improved refinery utilization rate which reached 91%. This increase reflects feedstock integration in refinery cycles and improved throughput margins, in particular for lubricants.
Approximately 15.8% of volumes of processed crude was supplied by Eni's Exploration & Production segment (16.3% in 2009) representing a 0.5 percentage point decrease from 2009, corresponding to a lower volume of approximately 90 ktonnes.