We operate in Kenya in the exploration and agro-industrial sectors. The country is leading Africa in the production of vegetable oil for Eni’s biorefineries in Gela and Venice. This is being done through a circular economy model that benefits local communities and helps to ensure a sustainable supply of raw materials to the global energy market. 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
Bioenergy
Oil & GasAgip Kenya was the first Eni company to operate in the field of import and distribution of oil products and by-products, nitrogen fertilisers, and synthetic rubber from the 1960s. Today, as Eni Kenya, we are also engaged in exploration activities in the offshore in six blocks located in the deep waters of the Lamu Basin, off Mombasa.
Kenya 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 production capacity of 15,000 tonnes of oil per year and has been supplying Enilive biorefineries since 2022.
This represents a new agribusiness model that enables Kenya to become part of the global sustainable fuel value chain through the production of agri feedstock, raw materials obtained 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 facility, inaugurated near Mombasa in 2023, with a production capacity of 55,000 tonnes of oil per year.
The first plant will be followed by a second. The development plan for the agri hubs generates income and market access opportunities for tens of thousands of farmers and provides for them to also function as training and technical support centres for local workers with the goal of contributing to the improvement of agricultural production and soil regeneration, also through the adoption of good practices and the promotion of food security in the territories.
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
Other circular economy initiatives in the country include the collection of used cooking oil (UCO), involving 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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