Italy's Eni (E) and Malaysia's Petronas are exploring the development of high-performance bio-gasoline that could eventually be used in commercial vehicles, expanding the oil companies' push into renewable fuels, the companies said on Monday.
The energy firms signed a feasibility agreement during the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix to assess the technical performance, market potential and sustainability of bio-gasoline produced from renewable feedstocks.
The study will build on Eni's Ecofining technology, which the Italian energy company has used since 2014 to produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) from renewable feedstocks. Eni and Petronas will initially assess fuels for motorsport applications before considering potential commercial products.
The agreement brings together Eni's experience in renewable fuels and biorefining with Petronas' expertise in fuel technology and high-performance products for combustion engines.
Eni produces HVO diesel and sustainable aviation fuel at its Enilive biorefineries, while Petronas has developed fuel technologies spanning conventional petroleum products and lower-carbon alternatives.
The companies are also expanding their broader partnership in Southeast Asia. Eni and Petronas recently established Searah, a 50-50 joint venture combining gas operations in Indonesia and Malaysia, including 19 production and development assets.
Elsewhere, Petronas, Enilive and Euglena Co. are developing a biorefinery in Pengerang, Johor, Malaysia, through Pengerang Biorefinery.
The facility is projected to process up to 650,000 metric tons of renewable feedstocks per year by the second half of 2028, producing sustainable aviation fuel, HVO diesel, and bio-naphtha.
Enilive currently sells HVO diesel at more than 1,700 service stations across Europe, giving Eni an established distribution network for renewable fuels as it looks to broaden the range of products derived from non-fossil feedstocks.
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