The President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, met this week in Brazzaville with Eni's CEO, Claudio Descalzi, to discuss the numerous and different activities undergoing in the country. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Hydrocarbons, Bruno Jean Richard Itoua, and the Director of the State Company SNPC, Maixent Raoul Ominga.

During the meeting, Eni's CEO Descalzi updated the President on the progress of the Congo LNG project, which exploits the country's gas resources through floating liquefaction plants. Thanks to Congo LNG, the country has joined the group of LNG exporting countries. With the completion of Phase 1 of the Congo LNG project, the country exports 1 billion m³/year. Phase 2, scheduled to start in Q4 2025, will increase exports to 4.5 billion m³/year.

Descalzi also updated President Sassou Nguesso on the progress of vegetable oil production activities for biorefining, enabling Congo to contribute to the global sustainable mobility chain. The start-up of the first agri-hub, with an installed capacity of 30 kt/year of oil, and the strong commitment to agricultural mechanisation marks the project's transition to the large-scale industrial phase. Production is certified according to the most stringent criteria defined by the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED) that guarantees traceability, sustainability of the production process, and respect for biodiversity, human rights and working conditions.

The CEO also informed President Sassou Nguesso of the start of reconstruction works on the 220 kV power distribution line connecting Pointe Noire to Brazzaville, and the 9 associated substations. These works will consolidate reliability and continuity on the high-voltage backbone, ensuring efficient electricity distribution between the capital and the country's main economic center.

Descalzi also illustrated Carbon Offset's activities, which have seen the distribution of over 60,000 cookstoves in Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville since 2024, giving over 300,000 people access to improved cooking systems. Finally, the CEO and the President discussed initiatives to promote the socio-economic development of local communities, including the Hinda Integrated Project, which has reached 25,000 beneficiaries in rural areas with initiatives in the areas of education, access to water and energy, economic diversification and health; initiatives to support higher education aimed at strengthening technical and vocational education and training; and the Fishermen Project, supporting the fishing communities of Pointe Noire to strengthen the value chain of fisheries products. These initiatives are promoted by Eni to achieve the “Just Transition” and in close collaboration with the relevant Ministries and local authorities, in alignment with the National Development Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Eni has been present in Congo for over 50 years. To date, it is the only company involved in the development of the Republic of Congo's large gas resources, and supplies gas to the Congo Electric Power Station (CEC), which provides 70% of the country's electricity production.

KeyFacts Energy: Eni Republic of the Congo country profile