The Kenyan President, Samoei Ruto, has met with the chief executive officer of Italian oil giant, Claudio Descalzi, in Nairobi to discuss the company’s exploration activities in the country.
Reports said discussions centered on Eni’s agribusiness activities and the company’s decarbonization initiatives in Kenya. The meeting was also attended by Kenya cabinet secretary for energy and oil, Davis Chirchir.
In a statement after the meeting, Eni said its boss and his delegation illustrated to President Ruto the project results for producing vegetable oil for biorefining, which the company launched in the country in 2022.
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The social impacts are particularly relevant, Eni said, noting that 40,000 farmers have been involved to date in the production of oilseeds, to which another 40,000 will be added by the end of the year, with a projection of around 200,000 by 2026.
The agri-hub currently employs more than 100 resources directly, which will exceed 500 when the other agri-hubs are completed. Furthermore, the statement reads that 2,000 tons of animal feed for local consumption were obtained as a by-product of the oilseeds.
Descalzi also shared with President Ruto the waste & residue initiatives to provide feedstock for biorefining.
According to the Italian oil major, the collection and export of used cooking oil began in 2022 and today involves over 400 suppliers. The model has already been extended to other African countries, contributing to integrating the continent into the sustainable mobility value chain.
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The statement said the Kenyan president and Eni’s chief executive officer equally discussed further initiatives in e-mobility and renewable energy.
Specific focus was given to solar, wind and geothermal energy, while there was also talk about waste to power. Eni says these programs will be finalized in the next few months.
By Ken Okoye
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