Italian oil and gas company, Eni SpA, isexpanding its clean energy ambitions in West Africa by targeting the use of rubber and oil seed crops as feed stock for bio fuel production in Côte d’Ivoire.
This follows a new agreement with the country’s Ministry of Agriculture to assess local opportunities for sustainable crop development on underutilized lands.
The agreement, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), aims to strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural value chains while supporting Eni’s global strategy to boost its bio refining capacity.
Eni, which began operating in the Ivorian energy sector in 2015, said the latest move is in line with its commitment to sustainable mobility and fair economic growth.
“The MoU aims to enhance the rubber (hevea) supply chain and assess the introduction of oil seed crops on marginal and degraded lands, thereby contributing to the country’s sustainable agricultural development without competing with food production and forest ecosystems,” the company stated in an online release.
Support for rubber farmers
Eni explained that it is already collaborating with the Ivorian Federation of Rubber Producers to transform rubber residues into raw materials for bio fuel, a move it said is bringing social and economic benefits to local communities.
Rubber is one of the most cultivated crops in Côte d’Ivoire, and Eni’s efforts are aimed at making use of waste and by-products rather than interfering with food systems.
The company noted that repurposing rubber residues not only supports farmers with additional income streams but also aligns with environmental goals by reducing agricultural waste.
Through this approach, thousands of farmers are expected to gain from the partnership, while the country works to build up its renewable energy capabilities.
Beyond rubber, Eni and the Ivorian government plan to evaluate oil seed cultivation on low value or degraded land, ensuring food security is not compromised.
These oil seeds will serve as additional feed stock for Eni’s growing network of bio refineries, part of a larger transition strategy in its downstream operations.
In 2023, Eni set up a new subsidiary, Eni Natural Energies Côte d’Ivoire, to spearhead its bio fuel and agricultural raw materials development in the region.
“This company is dedicated to developing sustainable supply chains of agricultural raw materials for the company’s bio refineries,” Eni said.
