Eni has been operating in the Congo for many years and along with its traditional business, thanks to close collaboration with the Congolese authorities, developed other activities aimed at the sustainable development of the country.
On 19 May 2008, the company inaugurated with the national authorities a new cooperation model, which integrates the traditional business of the exploration and production of hydrocarbons with sustainable activities on the territory and important initiatives in the non-conventional oil and renewable energy sectors. In particular:

• the search for and exploitation of non-conventional oil;
• the development of agricultural activities for producing both foodstuffs and biodiesel
• the construction of a gas-fired electricity generating station at the Djeno terminal, with the aim of eliminating gas flaring by May 2012.

In compliance with its Code of Ethics, Eni is committed to effectively contribute to the improvement of life quality and to the socio economic development of the communities where it works, through the implementation of development programs in collaboration with the national ministries and strategies.
In particular, Eni Foundation, following the agreement signed in 2007 with the Congolese Ministry of Health, Social Affairs and Family, launched programs in support of childhood: the Kento Muana Project for the preventiono f mother to child HIV transmission and the Salissa Muana Project aimed at the improvement of child health conditions through vaccination campaigns. These activites are implemented along with renovation and structural restoration of health facilities.

On 13 August 2008, Eni and Sonangol signed a Memorandum of Understanding that established the principles, objectives and time period for drawing up a collaboration plan between the two companies concerning the economic, industrial and social development of the country.

The signing of the Memorandum, which utilises the Eni model as a basis for negotiations for the various projects, opens up new opportunities for Eni in the Angolan offshore sector, where there is a large potential for research and production, promotes Eni's own technology and reinforces its partnership with Sonangol.

The MoU stipulates that in the different areas where Eni operates it will carry out various initiatives in the energy, industrial, social and educational sectors as part of its contribution to the independent development and sustainability of the country.

The Memorandum is particularly concerned with the following projects:

• developing onshore oil operations and contributing to the expansion of the country's energy infrastructure through the development of associated gas destined for the production of electricity for the benefit of local communities and Angolan industries;
• participating in the production of biofuels by exploiting surplus agricultural production that is not destined for foodstuffs;
• developing educational and cooperative projects connected to professional training.

In recent years the development of exploration and production operations in Libya has taken on a strategic role in Eni's business operations. Production  from traditional oil deposits and the development of gas deposits has made Eni the biggest foreign producer in Libya.

On 22 September 2006, the company signed an agreement with the Libyan National Oil Company and the Gaddafi Development Foundation for a $150 million, 8-year program (from 2006 to 2014) covering operations in the following sectors:

•  Health,
•  Education and Training,
•  Environment,
•  Recovery and development of the local cultural heritage.

The MOU defines a new programme for technical cooperation in development that has among its most important objectives the creation and development of professional and local skills. The strategic objective is to operate within the country both as a Development Agency (for sustainability) and as a Structural Fund for Sustainability, supporting local government authorities, which will be constantly involved through specific representative bodies, in defining the priorities and objectives for development.