Climate change

In 2013 greenhouse gas emissions were reduced in all sectors (in particular, down 9.7% in E&P, down 12.1% in G&P and down 14.1% in R&M), causing an overall decline in Eni of 9.9% compared to the previous year.

The change was caused not only by lower production levels, but also by the implementation of specific strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (in particular flaring down activities) and improvement actions designed to increase energy efficiency, as demonstrated by the improvement in the sector emission indexes for E&P and refining. In the thermoelectric sector accidental events (such as lengthy downtimes of the most efficient production units at Ferrera Erbognone and Mantua) and the need, for market reasons, to use the combined cycles at low loads, resulted in a reduction of overall performance and increased CO₂ emissions per unit of product, resulting in an increase in the performance index, which still remained below the threshold set for the reference period (415 gCO₂eq/kWheq).

The overall GHG performance positively affected the results obtained by the E&P sector with the flaring down projects, with volumes sent to flaring reduced by 16.5% compared to 2012 and the respective greenhouse gas emissions by 10.4%. Remembering that 2011 performance is not representative as it was affected by reduced production in Libya due to the Country’s political situation, the 2013 result also stands out as positive compared to 2010, with a reduction of more than 29% in the GHG emissions index from flaring per unit produced.

In Congo the development of the M’Boundi field continued with the application of advanced recovery techniques and economic enhancement of the associated gas, and an increase in 2013 of the quantities sold under long-term contracts to power stations in the area, including the Centrale Electrique du Congo (CEC) with a production capacity of 300 MW. In Nigeria the Akri and Ogbainbiri flaring down projects commenced; the completion of the upgrade at the Ogbainbiri flowstation will reduce gas volumes sent to flaring by 0.11 million cubic meters a day. In 2013 the flaring down programme in the area was accompanied by the completion of the upgrade of the flowstation at the Idu field, with a reduction of the gas flared amounting to 1.4 million cubic meters per day. GHG emissions from venting were also reduced compared to 2012 (down 20.4%), as well as the volume of gas sent to venting (down 20.3%).

In Europe, within the framework of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), in 2013 Eni’s consolidated greenhouse gas emissions were 7.6% less than those for 2012. The quotas assigned in 2013 were drastically reduced compared to the historical series due to the new allocation system in effect for the third ETS period (2013-2020), while installations grew from 39 to 40 due to the entry of the Goliat site run by the subsidiary Eni Norge in the E&P sector.

The declining trend in emissions at the installations subject to ETS regards all the sectors, with the sole exceptions of E&P, where emissions (equal to 6% of the total) are increasing (up 31.7% compared to 2012) due to the Val D’Agri installation, Florence FPSO reaching peak production and the commencement of activities at the Goliat site and in the chemicals sector, where they remained essentially stable (down 0.4%), contributing to 18% of the total. In G&P, emissions, which accounted for 51% of Eni’s total, were reduced by 9.6% due to the general decline of electricity production (down 11%) and in R&M, which accounted for 25% of the total, there was a decline of 14.2% as a result of the suspension of part of the activities in the Gela Refinery and a general reduction of processing activities (down 7%).

Indirect GHG emissions other than those due to the acquisitions from other companies (so-called Scope 3) showed a reduction (down 2.5% compared to 2012), related to the declining contribution of emissions associated with products sold due to the reduction in sales.