Oct. 16 – “When we work on oil extraction, we always bear in mind that it’s not ours – we only have the right to extract it and receive a fair compensation for it. This is why we constantly try to avoid invasive or “hunt-like” behaviors.” This is what emerges from Paolo Scaroni’s, ENI’s CEO, speech at the 50th anniversary of Enrico Mattei’s death. At the event, held in the Parliamentary Chamber, saw the participation of Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Republic, and speeches from Gianfranco Fini, the Chamber’s president, Fausto Bertinotti, president of the Chamber’s Foundation, Giuseppe Recchi, ENI’s president, and Paolo Mieli, president of RCS Libri. Scaroni further underlined the progress made in the past 50 years, when Mattei was still trying to open up the Italian company to international markets. “In the past years we have began generating electricity in Africa, because there can be no development without electricity.” Indeed, using its gas, ENI generates electricity for local populations in Nigeria, Congo, Angola, Ghana, Togo and Mozambique – the latter is home to a potentially important energy reserve. Scaroni also reminded the public of Mattei’s desire to include the extracting territories in the shares of the profit: “Mattei engaged with these countries to exploit and commercialize oil – he was able to go past a colonial spirit and enter a new contractual dimension: one where the counterpart is respected.” Finally, Scaroni recalled, “when Mattei died, ENI produced 40.000 barrels per day, today we produce 50 times that sum – but our growth has always been based on the principles he gave us. The world may be our horizon, but in our minds and hearts, Italy is always present: in the past 4 years, we hired more than 4.200 Italian graduates; our HQ is here, our labs, and our engineering facilities. Our expats are for the most part Italian – and this is the key to our success.”
