Italian multinational oil and gas company, Eni has commenced production of the first Kenyan vegetable oil for bio-refineries at its oilseed collection and pressing plant in Makueni.
The agrihub will have an installed capacity of 15,000 tons with an expected production of 2,500 tons in 2022.
“This project embodies all the pillars of Eni’s approach to sustainability. The carbon neutrality, as bio- refining is an important element in our path to zero emissions by 2050,” said Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni.
The agri-hub will process castor, croton and cottonseeds to extract vegetable oil.
The facility will also produce feed and bio-fertilizers derived from the protein component of the seeds for the benefit of livestock and food production, contributing to food security. The center will also work as a training and technical support hub for farmers.
Eni Kenya, its supply chain and all agri-feedstocks developed have been certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC-EU) sustainability scheme, one of the main voluntary standard recognized by the European commission for biofuel certification (RED II).
Notably, Eni is the first company in the world to certify castor and croton for biofuel use under the ISCC-EU scheme and has also enabled an African cotton mill to achieve such certification standard for the first time, offering new market opportunities to local farmers for the fiber.
The first phase of the project in Kenya includes the construction of a second agri-hub to reach a total capacity of 30,000 tons per year of vegetable oil in 2023, as well as the development of associated agricultural supply chains.
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The startup of the production in Kenya represents the first step in Eni’s agro-industrial chain initiatives.
Over the past year, agreements have been signed in several countries including Congo, Mozambique, Angola, Ivory Coast, Benin, Kazakhstan and Rwanda.
In these countries, as well as in Italy, feasibility studies have been launched in the most mature realities aiming at carrying out a first phase of agricultural activities starting in 2022 and then proceeding with the construction of seeds pressing plants for bio-refining.
SOURCES: Capital business