Eni expands collaboration with the UAE in data centres, electricity interconnections and critical minerals

Rome, 25 February 2025 – During the state visit of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and in the presence of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, today Eni’s Chief Executive Officer, Claudio Descalzi, signed three collaboration agreements with Emirati companies covering the development of data centres, renewable energy capacity transmission through cross border interconnection between Albania and Italy, and critical minerals.

In particular, Eni has signed a Letter of Intent with MGX, a leading investment fund focused on AI and Advanced Technology investment, and G42, a globally leading AI-focused group based in Abu Dhabi, to develop state-of-the-art data centres in Italy to store, process, and manage large amounts of data, with a planned IT capacity of up to 1 GW. These facilities will be fully powered by blue power supplied by Eni, a low-carbon energy source generated by natural gas power plants, whose CO₂ emissions are captured and stored. The first project planned regards Ferrera Erbognone, home to Eni’s Green Data Centre, and will be developed in two phases of up to 500 MW of IT capacity, equal to Italy’s current installed capacity. This project will be supported by a new dedicated power plant, with CO₂ capture and storage at the Ravenna CCS hub.

In addition,  Eni signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC - Masdar, the UAE's clean energy leader, and Taqa Transmission, a specialist in electricity transmission, for the establishment of long term power off take arrangements in Italy with Eni as a preferred off-taker of the renewable energy generated in Albania with a capacity of up to 3 GW transmitted through an up to 1 GW cross border subsea interconnection between Albania and Italy.  This agreement follows the Tripartite Strategic Partnership Framework signed in Abu Dhabi in January 2025 between the governments of Italy, Albania and the UAE.

Finally, Eni and ADQ, a global sovereign investor with a focus on critical infrastructure and supply chains, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the research and development of critical minerals. The agreement aims to strengthen the security and resilience of the critical minerals supply chain for both Italy and the UAE.

Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi commented “Our partnership with the UAE is a testament to our shared commitment to a sustainable energy future, leveraging innovation and collaboration across key sectors. Together with leading UAE companies we will develop initiatives in areas that are essential in the energy transition, such as data centers powered by blue energy, a model able to respond to AI's growing demand of sustainable computing capacity. This strategic cooperation underscores our dedication to driving technological progress and contributing to the energy security on a global scale."

Eni has been present in the UAE since 2018. The company operates in Abu Dhabi's offshore exploration sector, holding a 70% stake in Blocks 2 and 3. Eni also owns a 10% share in the offshore Ghasha concession, currently under development. In the production sector, Eni holds stakes in the offshore concessions of Lower Zakum (5%) and Umm Shaif/Nasr (10%). Eni also owns 20% of ADNOC Global Trading and ADNOC Refining. The latter operates in the Ruwais area, with a total refining capacity exceeding 900,000 barrels per day. The Ruwais complex ranks as the fourth largest worldwide in terms of capacity.