Eni has signed three collaboration agreements with Emirati companies to develop data centres, enhance renewable energy transmission between Albania and Italy, and strengthen critical minerals supply chains, the Italian company said on Monday.
The agreements were signed by Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi during the state visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Italy, in the presence of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Eni signed a letter of intent with investment fund MGX and AI-focused group G42 to develop state-of-the-art data centres in Italy. The facilities will have a planned IT capacity of up to 1 GW and will be powered by Eni’s blue power, a low-carbon energy source generated by natural gas power plants with CO2 capture and storage.
The first project will be developed in Ferrera Erbognone, home to Eni’s Green Data Centre, with an initial phase of up to 500 MW of IT capacity. A new dedicated power plant with carbon capture and storage at the Ravenna CCS hub will support the project.
Eni also signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar and Taqa Transmission for long-term power off-take arrangements in Italy. Eni will be the preferred off-taker for up to 3 GW of renewable energy generated in Albania, transmitted through an up to 1 GW cross-border subsea interconnection between Albania and Italy.
This follows the Tripartite Strategic Partnership Framework signed in Abu Dhabi in January 2025 between the governments of Italy, Albania and the UAE.
In addition, Eni and ADQ signed an MoU to collaborate on the research and development of critical minerals, aiming to enhance the security and resilience of supply chains for both Italy and the UAE.
Eni has been present in the UAE since 2018, operating in offshore exploration and production. The company holds stakes in offshore blocks 2 and 3, the Ghasha concession, and the Lower Zakum and Umm Shaif/Nasr fields. Eni also owns shares in ADNOC Global Trading and ADNOC Refining, which operates the Ruwais complex, one of the world’s largest refining hubs.
Source: theenergyyear.com