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A transformation plan is in place to build a new biorefinery and a chemical plastics recycling plant.
The Priolo industrial site is central to a transformation plan that strategically redefines its role within the evolution of Eni’s production assets in Sicily. The project involves the construction of a new biorefinery — Eni’s second after Gela — and a chemical plastics recycling plant based on Versalis’ proprietary Hoop® technology.
Location: Sicily
Start-up: 2026 - ongoing
Biorefining
Bioenergy
RecyclingIn February 2026, the site’s transformation into a technology hub reached a key milestone with the launch of a partnership between Eni and Q8 Italia. Operational management is entrusted to Eni Industrial Evolution, a company established to develop value chains in the circular economy and new businesses. At Priolo, the project involves the conversion of existing units and the integration of new plant sections dedicated to bio-based processes. The project area includes the former Versalis ethylene plant and an adjacent area previously used for site services.
The new biorefinery will have a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year, primarily processing vegetable waste and residues that do not compete with the food chain, along with animal fats and used cooking oils. In addition to the Ecofining™ plant, a biomass pretreatment unit and a hydrogen production facility will be developed.
Priolo will host the first industrial-scale plant based on Versalis’ Hoop® technology, dedicated to the chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste. The plant will have a treatment capacity of 40,000 tonnes per year, with an estimated output of around 32,000 tonnes of pyrolysis oil. This represents a complementary solution to traditional mechanical recycling, expanding the possibilities for plastic waste recovery.
Hoop® technology enables:
• the treatment of mixed plastics that would otherwise not be recyclable;
• the regeneration of feedstock with properties equivalent to virgin materials;
• reduced reliance on fossil resources, supporting circular economy models.
The development of these solutions can also help reduce emissions associated with the use of primary raw materials and the conventional disposal processes of plastics, by leveraging resources already present along the value chain.
The transformation of the Priolo site represents a key pillar of a broader, integrated strategy. The project is aligned with the Ragusa site, which is set to support new bio-based and circular value chains, and with the activities of Eni Rewind, which engages in emergency safety measures and remediation activities for soil and groundwater. Taken together, these initiatives aim to create an industrial ecosystem that generates value for the local area.
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