Adnkronos Rimini, 7 Nov. – (Adnkronos) – Training new professionals in renewables and electrical infrastructure on the African continent and supporting the biofuel supply chain in Kenya: these are the two objectives of two projects supported by the Mattei Plan for Africa. Their developments were discussed on the third day of Ecomondo, on the occasion of the 2024 edition of the Africa Green Growth Forum, organized by Ecomondo and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, in collaboration with the mission structure of the Presidency of the Council for the Mattei Plan. The event also brought to light new opportunities for cooperation in the sectors of the circular economy that can involve Italy with the African continent.
The Mattei Plan is supporting the establishment in Morocco of a center of excellence for training in the renewables and energy efficiency sector, aimed at the entire African continent. The center will train experts, administrators and technicians in the renewables and electricity infrastructure sectors, promoting sustainable energy development in the spirit of the Mattei Plan by strengthening managerial and professional skills 'on site'. The functioning and progress of the project, developed under the aegis of the Italian and Moroccan governments, were presented by the managing director of the Enel Foundation Giulia Genuardi, by Abdessamad Faik of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, by Mirco Torquati, sales manager of large-scale plants at 3SUN Gigafactory, and by Simone Pasquini, Area Manager Africa at Cesi Spa.
In Kenya, however, the Mattei Plan supports the development of the biofuel supply chain through financing from the Italian Climate Fund, through the production of vegetable oil, to be used as a raw material for biorefineries: starting from crops on degraded or abandoned land, from second-crop crops, not in competition but in synergy with agricultural food production. The project also includes the valorization of forestry and agro-industrial waste and residues, supporting circular economy processes.
Characterized by a strong socio-economic value, the initiative already involves over 100.000 small local farmers in 16 counties, with the aim of reaching 200.000 in the coming years, ensuring the creation of rural income, access to the market for farmers, the recovery of marginal areas and, at the same time, contributing to the global decarbonization of transport through the production of advanced biofuels. The discussion was held by Luigi Ciarrocchi, Director of Ccus, Forestry & Agri-Feedstock of Eni, Francesco Masera of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (Head of Business Promotion, Governance and Partnership, International Development Cooperation) and Laetitia Dumas of the International Labour Organization (Program and Team Management Operations, Occupational Health and Safety Branch).
In the second session of the conference, moderated by the president of the Ecomondo technical-scientific committee Fabio Fava, some case histories were developed, curated by Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo and through the contribution of companies and business consortia, that can represent examples for future cooperation prospects in the circular economy sectors, applied to the textile, WEEE, packaging and bioenergy sectors.
