On June 30, 2025, Italian energy giant Eni SpA inaugurated its first vegetable oil extraction plant in the Republic of Congo, marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to boost feedstock supply for its biorefineries. Located in Loudima, in the southern region of the country, the new facility can produce up to 30,000 metric tons of vegetable oil annually.

The project is part of a broader regenerative agriculture initiative developed in collaboration with local stakeholders. It focuses on cultivating crops on degraded or underutilized land, as well as through intercropping systems, avoiding competition with food production or harm to forests. Eni emphasized that the plant supports its strategic goal of achieving net-zero emissions across its products and operations by 2050.

The Loudima agri-hub positions Congo as an active contributor to the global biofuel value chain. Eni noted that the vegetable oil produced will meet stringent sustainability criteria as defined by the European Renewable Energy Directive. The oil will be traceable and certified to ensure respect for biodiversity, human rights, and labor standards throughout the production process.

According to Eni, the plant represents a major growth opportunity for Congo’s agro-industrial sector. The company is supporting the local agribusiness ecosystem through the provision of advanced mechanization services and the distribution of improved crop varieties. The facility will operate with approximately 200 new machines, half of which have already arrived, and will help train around 400 tractor operators in new skills related to mechanization, logistics, and industrial processes.

Beyond biofuel production, the agri-hub will also generate vegetable proteins for use in livestock feed, contributing to food security and stimulating growth in the agri-food sector. This initiative aligns with Eni’s broader sustainability efforts in the region, such as its improved cookstove program, which has already reached over 300,000 people. The program reduces indoor air pollution and limits unsustainable biomass use, enhancing health and quality of life in local communities.

In a related move, Eni signed a memorandum of understanding in May with the Ministry of Agriculture in Côte d’Ivoire to explore the cultivation of biofuel crops in that country. The agreement includes plans to enhance the rubber (hevea) supply chain and assess the viability of growing oilseed crops on marginal land, supporting sustainable agricultural development without impacting food security or forest ecosystems.