Eni seeks to transform Priolo site into biorefinery by 2028

Italian energy company Eni has initiated the environmental approval process to convert its Priolo industrial site in Sicily into a biorefinery and chemical recycling facility.

IMAGE: Illustration of a biorefinery. ENGINE via Perplexity AI

The proposed biorefinery will have a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year, primarily using vegetable and animal residues, fats, and oils as feedstock. It will produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel for sectors including road, marine, and rail transport, alongside sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the aviation sector.

The project also includes a biogenic feedstock pre-treatment unit, a hydrogen production plant, and a chemical recycling facility.

The development will occupy the area of Versalis’ existing ethylene plant, which will be gradually decommissioned, along with an adjacent site used for services. Completion is targeted by the end of 2028.

The Priolo biorefinery will become Sicily’s second operational biorefinery, following the Gela plant, which has been active since 2019.

By Tuhin Roy

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