Eni Receives Approval to Build Priolo Biorefinery and Versalis Hoop® Plant

Eni Receives Approval to Build Priolo Biorefinery and Versalis Hoop® Plant

(IN BRIEF) Eni has started the environmental authorisation process to redevelop its Priolo industrial site in Sicily into a biorefinery and a chemical recycling hub. The Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security approved the initiative, which will replace the existing ethylene plant. The new biorefinery will produce 500,000 tonnes of renewable fuels annually, using mainly waste-based feedstocks, and will include Ecofining™, pre-treatment, and hydrogen production units. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2028, becoming the second biorefinery in Sicily after Gela. Alongside it, Versalis will build the first industrial-scale Hoop® chemical recycling plant, capable of processing 40,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually. Developed in collaboration with S.R.S., this technology uses pyrolysis and AI-enhanced process optimisation to recover materials for new plastic production. The transformation confirms Eni’s long-term decarbonisation and sustainability strategy.

(PRESS RELEASE) MILAN, 9-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Eni has initiated the authorisation phase for the Environmental Impact Assessment (VIA) to redevelop its industrial complex in Priolo, Sicily. The Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security has recently given the green light for the company’s proposal to advance with the construction of a new biorefinery and a chemical recycling plant featuring Versalis’ proprietary Hoop® technology.

The transformation will take place within the area currently occupied by Versalis’ ethylene production plant, which is set to be gradually phased out, along with adjacent sections used for operational services. The upcoming biorefinery will boast a capacity of 500,000 tonnes annually and will primarily process residues and waste derived from vegetable sources, animal fats, and vegetable oils. The project encompasses an Ecofining™ unit, a biogenic feedstock pre-treatment facility, and a hydrogen production plant.

Once completed, the Priolo biorefinery will become Sicily’s second installation of its kind—following the Gela site, which has been active since 2019. It will be capable of producing HVO diesel for road, marine, and rail transport, as well as SAF-biojet fuel for aviation, ensuring maximum operational flexibility. The project’s completion is targeted for the end of 2028.

The Versalis Hoop® recycling plant will adopt advanced chemical recycling technology based on the pyrolysis of mixed plastic packaging waste. With a capacity of 40,000 tonnes per year, it is expected to yield around 32,000 tonnes of pyrolysis oil annually. A demonstration plant employing Hoop® technology was successfully launched in June 2025 at Versalis’ Mantua site, and the Priolo facility will mark its first large-scale industrial implementation. This innovation complements mechanical recycling by converting mixed plastic waste into raw materials suitable for manufacturing new plastic products, including those for food and pharmaceutical use.

Hoop® technology emerged from a collaborative effort between Versalis and the Italian engineering firm S.R.S. (Servizi di Ricerche e Sviluppo). The partnership resulted in the creation of a pioneering system that delivers high material recovery rates and accommodates diverse feedstock inputs. This is achieved through a high-efficiency pyrolysis reactor, coupled with advanced polymer analysis and Artificial Intelligence-driven process optimisation.

The transformation of the Priolo industrial site—first announced in October 2024 and formalised through an agreement signed in March 2025 at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT)—underscores Eni’s and its subsidiaries’ commitment to advancing decarbonisation and circular economy goals.

Media contact:

+39.0252031875
+39.0659822030
ufficio.stampa@eni.com

SOURCE: Eni S.p.A.