MILAN, Dec 14 (Class Editori) — Eni, Euglena and PETRONAS are considering the possibility of developing and managing together a biorefinery in one of the biggest petrochemical areas in Southeast Asia, the Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) in Malaysia. They are currently conducting technical and economic feasibility studies for the project: the investment decision is expected to be made by 2023 and the plant could be operational by 2025. Eni’s stock prices are flexing by 0.36% to 13.76 euros in Piazza Affari after RBC cut its rating from outperform to sector perform and with the price of Brent falling by 0.02% to 80.66 dollars a barrel.
A flexible biorefinery to maximize production
The proximity to the existing PETRONAS refinery and petrochemical complex could allow the biorefinery to take advantage of the integrated value chain, as well as the services and facilities in the PIC. It is expected that the biorefinery could have a flexible configuration to maximize the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) for aviation and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil for road, rail and marine transport. This flexibility would enable production to meet the growing energy demand. Specifically, it is expected that the biorefinery could have a processing capacity of about 650,000 tons per year and a production capacity of up to 12,500 barrels of biofuel per day.
Eni-Honeywell UOP’s Ecofining technology
The biorefinery will use Honeywell UOP’s Ecofining technology developed by Eni in collaboration with Honeywell UOP. “For the biorefinery project to be developed jointly with Euglena and PETRONAS in Malaysia, we are pleased to share our experience and cutting-edge proprietary technologies that have enabled us to carry out the world’s first conversion of a refinery to a biorefinery in Porto Marghera, Venice, in 2014, and to inaugurate a second one in Gela, Sicily, in 2019,” Giuseppe Ricci, Eni’s Energy Evolution Chief Operating Officer, pointed out.
The role of biofuels
Eni envisions achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 through a decarbonization pathway that aims to reduce emissions generated throughout the life cycle of products. In order to achieve this goal, the role of biofuels is crucial because they represent an energy carrier that can make an immediate contribution to the decarbonization of transport. And Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, of which Eni is the only Italian producer and the second in Europe, can be used either added to diesel fuel or in pure form in all approved engines. 100% pure Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil makes it possible to cut CO2 emissions, calculated over the entire life cycle, by between 60% and 90%, depending on the charge used, compared with the reference fossil mix. In addition, biofuels are also a concrete solution for the decarbonization of aviation: the Eni Biojet is a Sustainable Aviation Fuel produced in Eni's Livorno refinery, in synergy with Eni's Gela biorefinery, which is blended at 20% in Eni Jet Fuel. From 2024 in Gela, the production of an additional 150,000 tons per year of Eni Biojet will start, in order to meet the potential blending obligation of the Italian market for 2025.
About Euglena
Euglena is a leading Japanese company dedicated to biotechnology. Thanks to its capabilities in R&D, such as the Euglena microalgae mass cultivation technology, it has grown rapidly in the healthcare field and has since dedicated itself to the development of the biofuel sector. In 2018, it completed the first demonstration plant in Japan to produce fuels from renewable materials for jets and diesel engines, and has supplied its products to companies and organizations working in land, air and marine mobility across the country. Recently, Euglena became the first Japanese supplier to introduce SAF into the refueling system at Narita International Airport and completed the first supply of SAF to Japan's government aircraft. “This project is a significant step for the commercialization of biofuels, as well as for our challenge to accelerate their use and speed up decarbonization in Japan,” Euglena founder and President Mitsuru Izumo said, who is excited to have the opportunity to work “with highly competent partners and take a step forward with them for a brighter and more sustainable future”.
PETRONAS' goals
Meanwhile, PETRONAS continues to chart its own path in the biofuels sector, through decarbonization and diversification of its production portfolio in order to meet the growing global demand for sustainable solutions. “This collaboration is key to enhancing the strengths of the partners and together consolidating our position in the biofuels field in Malaysia and around the world,” Ahmad Adly Alias, Vice President Refining, Marketing and Trading of Downstream at PETRONAS, stated. It is the first Asian energy company to declare a goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050.
(Source:Class Editori)
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