Biorefineries play a central role in Eni's evolution because they contribute to achieving our main goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The hydrogenated biofuels (HVOs) we produce from feedstocks that do not compete directly with food and feed crops, such as waste and agricultural residues, are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. Biorefineries are also the result of our ongoing commitment to research and technological innovation. Thanks to the development of proprietary technologies patented in our Research Centres, we have completely reorganised the traditional refineries in Venice and Gela, converting them to process raw materials of biological origin (vegetable oils, but also animal fats and used cooking oils or oil extracted from algae) and making increasing use of waste and residue feedstocks. Furthermore, by 2023, our biorefineries will be palm oil free in line with legal requirements, i.e. they will not use palm oil in their production cycles: instead, alternative feedstocks (e.g. used cooking and frying oils, animal fats and vegetable oil processing waste) and advanced feedstocks (e.g. algae and waste oils, as well as wood and cellulose material, bio-oils) will be used. During the course of the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, processing capacity will reach 2 MTPA through the expansion of the Venice plant and the conversion of another conventional refinery, and we plan to increase it to 6 MTPA over the next decade. To accelerate the use of our high-quality biofuels, we have also set the goal of bringing together our biorefining and marketing activities in a dedicated sustainable mobility company, which will enjoy a unique market position as a customer-focused multi-energy, multi-service business.
Finally, a further line of development in the field of fuels produced from waste concerns the possibility of obtaining pyrolysis oil from the treatment of end-of-life tyres (ELTs). This particular area is the subject of an agreement with Ecopneus signed in July 2021 for studies and experiments aimed at assessing the most suitable technologies for exploiting ELTs and obtaining both energy products (pyrolysis oil) and chemical products (asphalts, surfaces for sports activities, acoustic insulation, street furniture, etc.) with a view to a circular economy.