Versalis, Eni’s chemical company, and BTS Biogas, an Italian company in the building and managing sector of biogas plants, have agreed to develop and commercialise an innovative technology for the production of biogas and biomethane from residual lignocellulosic biomass.
“Another main pillar of our strategy is to drive sustainability through chemistry from renewable sources. We already operate on two technological platforms: Proesa® starting from solid biomasses and Matrìca from vegetable oils.” Adriano Alfani, CEO Versalis – the chemical division of Italian oil company ENI, talks to Il Bioeconomista.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
Eni has launched the production of alternative sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that will significantly contribute to the decarbonization of aviation in the short to medium term. Eni SAFs are produced exclusively from waste and residues, in line with the company’s strategic decision not to use palm oil from 2023.
Versalis, Eni’s chemical company, has launched a new line to produce liquid hand disinfectant marketed under the brand name Invix™ at its plant in Crescentino (Vercelli, North-western Italy), to meet the growing demand as a result of the current health situation across the nation.
“The bioeconomy offers great opportunities for the European chemical industry to create new products, diversify its raw material base and reduce its dependence on non-renewable resources”. To say it – in this long exclusive interview with Il Bioeconomista – is Daniele Ferrari, CEO Versalis, the Chemical Division of Italian oil giant ENI, and President CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council. Ferrari talks with us about the main challenges the European chemical industry is facing, the circular bioeconomy and the next steps of Versalis in the green chemistry field.
Interview by Mario Bonaccorso
Syndial, Eni’s environmental services company, begins operating at its pilot plant at the the Gela (Sicily) refinery. The plant transforms Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) by recycling it into bio-oil, which can then be used to produce next-generation fuels. The plant represents the first milestone in a process driven by Eni’s own research and launched with the development of the proprietary waste-to-fuel technology created by Eni’s Renewable Energy and Environmental R&D Center in Novara.
Eni and AMA, a public company of Roma Capitale, signed an agreement to launch collection points for waste cooking oil produced in the homes of its employees at Eni’s Rome offices in Piazzale Mattei and Via Ribotta, which will then be converted into high quality biofuels.
Italian oil giant Eni signed an agreement with Utilitalia (the federation of public owned energy, water and environmental companies) and CONOE (the Italian consortium for the collection and treatment of oil and used vegetable and animal and fat) to boost the collection of used vegetable oil produced in the homes of Eni’s employees. The collection will be made from Eni sites across the country, including operational headquarters and production plants.
Mossi Ghisolfi is for sale. According to different rumors in Italy, Versalis, the chemical division of the oil giant Eni, and various European (such as the French oil colossus Total) and Asian industrial groups would be interested in acquiring the Italian chemical company which is one of the world’s largest PET manufacturer with a capacity of nearly 1.6 million tonnes per year and plants in Brazil, Mexico and the United States.
“The Ipo (Initial public offering, editor’s note) of Versalis is not yet in Eni’s plans”, Massimo Mondazzi, CFO of the Italian oil giant, said last Friday during a conference call with analysts answering the question about the chemical quotation hypothesis. “We want to maintain and strengthen Versalis, there are no Ipo projects. The option is not in the plans,” he said.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 