Eni has stepped up a gear on sustainability and decarbonization by transforming its business lines and investing in research and development. As part of its ambitious sustainability strategy, the company has launched Enilive, a brand dedicated to decarbonizing mobility by 2050, offering integrated services and products.
During his visit to Türkiye, we had the pleasure of conducting an insightful interview with Luca Salvi, Head of Additive Business at Enilive. He shared comprehensive details about Enilive, the Eni F.I.R.S.T. platform, the lubricant additives market in Türkiye, their new viscosity modifier for hydraulic oils, and the patented anti-friction agent designed to meet future specifications, among other innovations.
Enilive can boast a remarkable expertise within additives production. Could you please tell us the business’s main drivers and what you are doing in terms of sustainability?
Enilive has been producing Lubricant Additives since 1983 in its owned plant in Robassomero (near Turin, Northern Italy), showcasing innovation through its Technological Research and Development department in Milan. The company has registered several patents, highlighting its commitment to meeting stringent specifications and enhancing oil performance. At the Eni Research Centre, the focus includes synthesizing new products, evaluating additive performance through tests, and assessing lubricants according to international standards and OEM specifications. The Centre collaborates with top universities and laboratories to discover new molecules and technologies. Enilive additives comply with the American Chemistry Council Product Approval Code of Practice. Additionally, the chemical laboratory at the Eni Research Centre participates in the ASTM Proficiency Testing Program for automotive lubricants.
Enilive manufactures strategic components using its proprietary technology in its own facility. All finished products are crafted from a meticulous selection of the finest raw materials to ensure high performance.
Enilive primarily produces its additives and main components (detergents, PPD, VM) at the Robassomero plant in Turin, which upholds exceptional standards in health and safety (ISO 45001), production quality (ISO 9001), and environmental respect (ISO 14001). Enilive dispersants are manufactured at Italian facilities under proprietary technical agreements and patents.
Could you please tell us about Enilive’s current additive product portfolio and commercial strategy?
Current product offerings of the company include Detergents (neutral and over-based calcium sulphonates 300 and 400 TBN), Pour Point Depressants (low-medium-heavy molecular weight), Viscosity Modifiers Liquid and Solid (from OCP and Star Polymer Rubbers), Dispersants, Engine Oil Packages (PCMO-HDDO-Moto-Marine), and Industrial Packages (Hydraulic Oils, Steam and Gas Turbine Oil, Compressors, Slideway, etc.).
Our product portfolio is always improving. We are trying to be more and more competitive in terms of efficiency and cost. During this year for example, we have launched a new Viscosity Modifier PMA based for Hydraulic Oils already DIN 51524-3 HVLP and ISO 11158 HV using our Hydraulic Package Eni MX 5003 and Exxon EHC Group II base oils. A great result in a very short time was achieved thanks to our R&D!
Another important goal has been reached in the automotive sector with Eni F.I.R.S.T.
What is Eni F.I.R.S.T. and which benefits does it offer?
Eni F.I.R.S.T. (Further Improved Robustness Scalable Technology) is an innovative platform featuring two packages: Eni MX 5221 for diesel and Eni MX 5122 for gasoline. These packages are formulated with proprietary components, including an S-free detergent, a Cl-free dispersant, and a new ashless friction reducer. They can be used individually or combined together.
Eni MX 5221 is an HDDO cascade additive package for mineral formulations meeting API CF/CF-2 and lower specifications. It offers high detergency, long-lasting wear protection, and effective soot handling, thanks to its over-based calcium sulfonate and Cl-free dispersant.
Eni MX 5122 is a passenger car Additive Package designed for API SP, SM/SN, and lower-performance spark ignition engines. Eni MX 5122 additive package excels in oxidation resistance and sludge prevention due to its high molecular weight Cl-free dispersant. It ensures balanced anti-wear performance over time. When used with Eni MX 5221, it can formulate oils that meet API CF/CF-2 and lower performance levels for compression ignition engines. In addition, Eni MX 5122 RC is API SP ILSAC GF-6A.
Key benefits of this technology include compliance with all API specifications and the latest ILSAC GF 6-A, high detergency power and TBN, effective soot handling, long-lasting and balanced anti-wear system, strong anti-oxidant properties, control of sludge and deposits, cost savings in logistics and transportation, enhanced manufacturing flexibility, simplified supply chain, and reduced number of tanks needed for additives. Basically, with only two packages the final customer can cover all API S categories and several API C ones.
How about the lubricant additives market in Türkiye and your authorized distributor ADCO?
The lubricant additives market in Türkiye is a significant and evolving sector, driven by the country’s industrial growth and increasing automotive demand. There is a rising demand for high-performance lubricants in various sectors such as automotive, industrial, and marine. Türkiye imports a significant amount of lubricant additives to meet its domestic demand. In recent years, there has been an increase in the import of additives and specialties, reflecting the growing need for advanced lubricant formulations. Overall, I can say that the lubricant additives market in Türkiye is poised for continued growth, supported by technological advancements, increasing industrial activities, and a robust automotive sector.
Enilive has decades of experience in the lubricants additives sector with an integrated cycle that includes R&D, raw materials procurement, production of components and packages, sales and after-sales services. We reach our lubricant additive customers in Türkiye through ADCO, which is our authorized distributor for the region. Our partnership has a long history. Our collaboration began in 1993 under the brand name ‘MixOil’. ADCO has been an invaluable and trusted ally for us ever since.
Sustainability is becoming the main focus of this century, especially for energy companies. How is Eni approaching its path toward decarbonization?
Eni, a 70-year-old company, has embarked on an industrial transformation involving all business lines aiming to decarbonize the entire company, by investing in research, development, and implementing transition technologies, striving at the same time to ensure environmental sustainability, supply security, and energy affordability.
The energy transition strategy, among other things, has recently led to the release of a new brand and visual identity, Enilive, thus consolidating Eni’s role in decarbonization.
Enilive is Eni’s company dedicated to the mobility transformation, founded with the goal of offering integrated services and products that are progressively decarbonized by 2050. All of Eni’s mobility activities have now converged within Enilive.
Over the years, Eni has diversified its offerings, including mobility products and services, now unified under Enilive. Enilive encompasses biorefining, biomethane assets, smart mobility, and the production and marketing of various energy carriers. It offers alternative fuels like HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil), bio-LPG, and biomethane, as well as traditional products such as fuels, lubricants, additives, bitumen, etc. relying on a network of more than 5,000 Enilive Stations in Europe, to the provision of services to support people on the move. Rebranded as Enilive, the new name, colors, and logo reflect its mission to make daily life easier, smoother, and more sustainable. Enilive focuses on high-quality, advanced products to meet the demands of a competitive market.
Among the energy products, Enilive also brings decades of expertise in the lubricant additives sector, operating an integrated cycle that encompasses research and development, raw materials procurement, component and package production, as well as sales and after-sales services.
Maybe you can hint at some news about the future of Enilive Lubricant Additives?
As already explained, we are daily committed to guaranteeing the highest levels of quality of our products giving, at the same time, a look into sustainability that is becoming the main drivers of our research and future applications.
With this in mind, we have already patented a new “anti-friction” agent that has been already used in combination with Eni MX 5122 to reach the utmost stringent ILSAC GF-7 specification that will be released in 2025.
Finally, we are not only committed to exploring new sustainable additives for automotive but also for other industrial products such as, i.e., bitumen. In fact, several tests are ongoing for new additives that can be used to maximize the use of RAP, Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement, a real example of “circular economy”.
We are not committed to the future, we are already in the future!
