OMEC Task Force on Circular Economy Seminar
OMEC held its Circular Economy Seminar, “Best Practices and Resource Resilience,” in Rome on 28 September 2026, drawing 130 participants in Rome and online. Hosted by Eni at the Eni Conference Center and organized in cooperation with Task Force Circular Economy (TFCE) Vice-Chairs Edison and ETAP, the seminar explored how the circular economy can strengthen the resilience of the Mediterranean energy transition.
The seminar was moderated by TFCE Chair Maria Mantini (Eni) and opened with remarks from Marica Calabrese (Eni), Elena Guarnone (Edison), and Atef Bel Kahla (ETAP). Matteo Urbani (OMEC) then introduced the day’s framing, presenting the circular economy not as a separate theme but as a cross-cutting lens on the energy transition, drawing on the forthcoming TFCE Discussion Paper.
The first panel addressed water management, a resource the energy sector depends on at every stage. Stefano Allievi (Eni) presented Eni’s approach, including water reuse and desalination at its industrial sites and its commitment to water positivity. Mourad Ayed (STEG) discussed the ELMED Tunisia–Italy interconnection, outlining how the project incorporates the protection of marine biodiversity, including the Posidonia seagrass meadows of Cap Bon.
The second panel examined energy recovery from waste. Gaetano Annunziata (Edison) presented the state of biomethane development in Italy, including current bottlenecks and prospects for scale-up. José Luis Lloret (Naturgy) described a wastewater treatment plant in A Coruña, Spain, where organic waste is converted into renewable gas and fertilizer.
The third panel addressed end-of-life management for energy assets and materials. Atef Bel Kahla (ETAP) reviewed the regulatory frameworks the Southern Mediterranean will need as solar panels and wind turbines approach decommissioning. Francesco Vegliò (ORIM and the University of L’Aquila) presented methods for recovering critical raw materials from batteries, photovoltaic panels, and industrial waste, from laboratory research to industrial-scale application. Andrea Leone (Eni) presented examples of waste valorization in Eni’s upstream operations in Egypt, Tunisia, Congo, and Kazakhstan.
OMEC Director General Dr. Houda Ben Jannet closed the seminar with a Mediterranean perspective on the discussions and an outlook on the Task Force’s next steps. OMEC thanks Eni for hosting the seminar, TFCE Chair Maria Mantini (Eni) for moderating the day and steering the work of the Task Force, Vice-Chairs Edison and ETAP, and every speaker and participant who contributed to the exchange.