The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Italian energy company Eni have signed a €500 million 15-year loan to develop a biorefinery in Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi, located in the province of Pavia. The objective is to transform part of the conventional refinery into an facility capable of producing advanced biofuels.
Technological Conversion Towards Advanced Biofuels
Specifically, the project involves the reconversion of the hydrocracking unit using Ecofining™ technology, along with the construction of a waste pretreatment plant. These waste materials include:
- Used cooking oils.
- Animal fats.
- Agri-food industry by-products.
With these raw materials, Eni’s Enilive division will produce fuels such as HVO and SAF, both aligned with European renewable energy regulations. Starting in 2028, the facility will have an estimated capacity of 550,000 tons per year, integrating biofuel production with existing infrastructure.
Strategic, Energy, and Environmental Impact
The project will directly contribute to reducing the carbon footprint in different transport segments, diversify Europe’s energy supply, and serve as a strategic step in Eni’s goal to reach a biofuel production capacity of up to 5 million tons by 2030.
According to international estimates, sustained growth in biofuels can be expected, potentially increasing from 4% of energy consumption in transport in 2024 to 12% in 2050. In this scenario, projects like the Sannazzaro biorefinery strengthen European industrial capacity to meet future demand for more sustainable energy solutions.
Source: Eni