2025-ongoing: Expansion Project (Phase 2)
The project
The first phase of the project was aimed at converting the Venice refinery from a conventional facility into a biorefinery. This was achieved by repurposing existing units, which previously processed crude oil, to handle renewable feedstocks such as used cooking oil and non-edible vegetable oils. The conversion leveraged Honeywell-ENI’s Ecofining® technology.
The scope of work encompassed all engineering services leading up to ENI’s Final Investment Decision (FID), as well as engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) activities. The plant was designed with a production capacity of 400,000 tonnes per year, targeting the supply of renewable diesel, naphtha, and LPG to the local market.
The second phase, which began in 2025, involves the expansion of the Venice Biorefinery. It includes all engineering services required to support ENI’s FID and subsequent EPC execution. This part of the project increases production capacity from 400,000 to 600,000 tonnes per year, with the strategic goal of starting Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production by 2027.
The project has been recognised as the “1st conversion in the world of a traditional refinery into a biorefinery”. It laid the foundation for a strategic collaboration established in 2023 between ENI and Saipem, aimed at converting existing facilities into biorefineries and developing new ones.
With the award of this new contract, Saipem reaffirms its commitment to the energy transition and strengthens its position in the biorefining sector.