NAIROBI, Kenya July 18 – Italian multinational oil and gas company, Eni has commenced production of the first Kenyan vegetable oil for bio-refineries at its oilseed collection and pressing plant in Makueni. The agrihub will have an installed capacity of 15,000 tons with an expected production of 2,500 tons in 2022.
Which African country has a biorefinery based on vegetable oil?
Kenya is the first African country in which we have built an oilseed pressing plant for the extraction of vegetable oil for the production of biofuel. Located in Wote, Makueni County, the centre, also known as an agri-hub, has a capacity of 15,000 tons per year and, since 2022, has been supplying the Eni biorefinery in Gela.
How much Croton & cotton oil has Eni shipped from Kenya?
However, on the same May 2023 call with investors Eni stated it had shipped 300 tonnes of croton and cotton oil from Kenya in October 2022, and that “due to subsequent production we are in the process of sending the first cargo of vegetable oils of about 4,000 tonnes in bulk” [mainly castor oil it had been stockpiling].
Where is vegetable oil produced for biorefining?
The first cargo of vegetable oil for biorefining produced by Eni in Kenya leaves the port of Mombasa bound for the biorefinery in Gela, Italy. The Makueni agri-hub for the collection and pressing of oilseed is operative with the launch of vegetable oil production for biorefineries.
Is Eni bringing vegetable oil from Congo to Italy?
Despite being “the most advanced” of Eni’s African biofuel ventures, alongside Kenya, the flow of vegetable oil from Congo to Italy has yet to begin. Sign at Eni’s agri-hub construction site in Loudima, Republic of Congo, Photo: Marien NZIKOU-MASSALA
How much castor oil was shipped from Kenya to Italy?
Customs data analysed by T&E covering the period January to November 2023 indicates that 7,348 tonnes of castor oil were shipped from Kenya to Italy. This comprised two shipments, in July and August 2023.