We operate in Kenya in the agro-industrial sector. The country is leading Africa in the production of vegetable oil for Enilive biorefineries through a circular economy model that promotes the development of local communities and ensures a sustainable supply of raw materials to the global energy market. Kenya also holds another record: in 2023, Kenya’s national airline became the first in the world to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by Enilive on its Nairobi-Amsterdam route.
Africa is playing an increasingly important role in the global economy and geopolitics. To support its constant demographic growth and economic development, the continent needs to invest in energy infrastructure. This is especially true in the sub-Saharan region, where millions of people still lack access to electricity. The energy transition provides an opportunity to meet these challenges by modernizing the energy mix and making it more efficient.
Activity start date: 1960 - present
BioenergyKenya is the first African country where we have developed an oilseed pressing plant to extract vegetable oil for biofuel production. Located in Wote, Makueni County, Eni’s first agri-hub on the continent has a capacity of 15,000 tonnes of oil per year and has been supplying Enilive biorefineries since 2022.
This new agribusiness model enables Kenya to become part of the global industrial value chain for sustainable fuel production through the production of agri feedstock, i.e. raw materials from crops grown on degraded or abandoned land, intercropping and the recovery of forestry and agro-industrial residues, without competing with the food supply chain. The first plant was followed by a second, inaugurated in 2023 near Mombasa, with a capacity of 55,000 tonnes of oil per year. The agri-hub development plan creates income-generating and market access opportunities for local farmers.
Castor bean plantation
Cultivation of raw materials in the fields
Workshop for the development of agro-industrial supply chains
Seed pressing at the agri hub
Circular economy projects in the country also include the collection of used cooking oil (UCO) from fast-food chains, restaurants and hotels.
From petroleum products to biofuels, we share the country’s path towards the energy transition.
Kenya Airways flight covering the route Nairobi-Amsterdam is powered by sustainable aviation fuel produced by Enilive.
In collaboration with AICS, the initiative aims to test climate-resistant sustainable agricultural technologies and practices inMakueni County.
The first cargo of vegetable oil for biorefining produced by Eni in Kenya leaves the port of Mombasa bound for the biorefinery in Gela, Italy.
The Makueni agri hub for the collection and pressing of oilseed is operative with the launch of vegetable oil production for biorefineries.
Around 25,000 local farmer families are involved in the production of agri feedstock for the biorefining supply chain.
The collaboration agreement covers key sectors for the development of the country, such as agriculture and the environment, healthcare and education, innovation and access to energy.
The agreement provides for the promotion of the decarbonisation process through the integration of the circular economy along the entire supply chain.
Activities in the exploration and production of natural resources resume.
The company starts production and distribution activities of petroleum products and by-products, nitrogen fertilisers and synthetic rubber.
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