Italian Eni S.p.A and Q8 Italy, a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC), have signed an agreement on the joint implementation of a project for the construction of a new Priolo bio-processing plant in Sicily. This is reported in a press release from Eni.
As part of the project, the existing Versalis plant will be transformed into an enterprise with a capacity of 500 thousand tons per year for the production of hydrotreated vegetable oil and environmentally friendly aviation fuel for automobile, marine and aviation transport.
The Priolo bio-processing plant will use Eni's patented Ecofining technology, which allows the processing of used raw materials, waste and vegetable oils into modern biofuels, which can also be used in pure form.
Subject to regulatory approval and the conclusion of final contractual agreements, the project will be completed by the end of 2028. The agreement strengthens the thirty-year partnership between Eni and Q8, which began with the construction of the Milazzo refinery in 1996. The agreement is the second major Q8 joint industrial project with Eni in Sicily.
For Eni, the Priolo project is part of a broader strategy to convert unprofitable chemical assets into competitive, low-carbon enterprises in line with a restructuring plan published in 2024. At the same time, Q8 and KPC are interested in the project from the point of view of portfolio diversification as part of the transition to clean energy by 2050, taking into account the development of relations with European clients.
The European biofuel production sector is developing against the background of the desire to decorb transport, especially in the aviation sector. Large-scale projects position Italy as a key center for the production of advanced biofuels in the Mediterranean region.
Q8 Italia is a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Italia that processes and supplies petroleum products through a network of 3,000 filling stations in Italy. In addition, Q8 Italia is engaged in direct sales of lubricants and fuels for marine and aviation equipment.
Kuwait Petroleum Corp. — Kuwait State Oil and Gas Corporation for the extraction, production and processing of petroleum products and transportation of crude oil. The company produces about 7% of the world's total crude oil. The headquarters is located in Kuwait City.
Eni S.p.A. is an Italian multinational energy company and one of the largest oil companies in the world with a market capitalization of 40 billion euros. The main production regions include Africa and Kazakhstan, while the main sales markets are Italy and other European countries. The headquarters is located in San Donato Milanese (Milan).
