- Enilive opened its first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant in Gela, Sicily, with a production capacity of 400,000 tons annually, covering a third of Europe’s 2025 SAF demand.
- The plant produces SAF using waste-based feedstocks and advanced technologies. It aims to increase its biorefining capacity to 5 million tons annually by 2030.
- Enilive plans for additional SAF plants in Venice, Malaysia, and South Korea, aiming to double global SAF production by 2030.
Enilive, a subsidiary of the Eni group, has opened its first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production plant at its biorefinery in Gela, Sicily. The facility will produce 400,000 tons of SAF annually. This output will meet nearly a third of Europe’s projected SAF demand for 2025.
The Gela plant marks a key milestone for Enilive in its efforts to comply with the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulation. Starting in 2025, the regulation will require 2% of jet fuel from SAF. The share will gradually increase to 70% by 2050.
The Gela biorefinery processes up to 736,000 tons of biomass each year. It uses waste-based feedstocks such as used cooking oils, animal fats, and residues from the vegetable oil industry. Enilive has upgraded the plant with new technologies. These include an isomerisation unit and a degumming line to diversify raw materials and produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biofuels. SAF is a key component of HVO biofuels.
Enilive has also improved the site’s logistics. The company modernised storage and transport infrastructure to handle future demand. Enilive aims to increase its biorefining capacity to more than 5 million tons annually by 2030.
Since September 2022, Enilive has secured several SAF supply agreements with airlines. These agreements will help the company transition from small-scale to industrial SAF production. Enilive will integrate its Gela facility with other Eni plants to meet the rising demand for SAF.
Enilive plans to open more SAF plants in the coming years. A new Porto Marghera, Venice plant will begin operations in 2026. The company is also developing biorefineries in Malaysia and South Korea. These projects will help Enilive double its global SAF production by 2030.
Enilive’s strategy builds on over a decade of investments in biorefining technologies. The company has used these investments to diversify raw materials and scale up SAF production. Stefano Ballista, CEO of Enilive, said the company’s goal is to meet the growing demand for sustainable fuel solutions. This strategy will strengthen Enilive’s position in the global SAF market.
Enilive now positions itself as a leader in the rapidly growing SAF industry. Its new plant in Gela will help Europe meet its SAF targets for 2025. Enilive’s expansion of biorefining capacity and long-term airline partnerships will ensure a steady supply of this vital fuel. As SAF demand grows, Enilive’s continued investment in innovation and infrastructure will support the future of sustainable aviation.