Eni: Success through satellites
The Italian firm is unique among IOCs in setting up entities specialising in particular regions and low-carbon technologies, creating greater flexibility in attracting investment
Italian IOC Eni has outperformed many of its peers in recent years—an achievement the company and analysts attribute to a pioneering ‘satellite’ business model and a focus on low-cost projects with fast delivery. Under the satellite model, Eni has created a number of entities with dedicated management and separate balance sheets. In the low-carbon space. These businesses include Plenitude, launched in 2017 to develop renewables, energy retail and electric vehicle (EV) services, and Enilive, created in 2023 for biorefining and biofuel sales. Eni also established an entity focused on CCUS this year. Eni has separated out some parts of its core oil and gas operations as well. In 2018, it establ
Also in this section
16 April 2026
Demand for oil is falling because supply cannot meet it, not because it is no longer required
16 April 2026
The continent has an immediate opportunity to make the most of its energy resources by capturing gas that is currently slipping away
15 April 2026
The continent is seeing political pushback to climate plans, corporate reassessment of transition goals and rising supply risk in a fractured global order
15 April 2026
The Middle East energy crisis may turn out to be pivotal to the industry’s long-term expansion, but significant challenges still stand in its way






