Water is one of earth's most critical resource, since it is essential for life. The consequences of climate change and the actual projections of increasing water demand will affect the water availability and also cause the deterioration of the quality of water bodies, leading to new scenarios of water stress at a global level. In this framework, energy companies must consider sustainable options for the use of this resource, especially in water scarce regions. In this framework, Eni is committed to identify and reduce the business risks connected to the water resources and to pursue the following principles:
• Water Conservation: Energy operations may need to access significant quantities of high-quality water, in terms of water with low salinity content. The key elements to the conservation of water resources include the reduction of withdrawals and the efficiency in water use, together with the application of best operational practices at local and watershed levels, the stakeholder engagement and the control of associated risks.
• Water Reuse and Valorization: Design solutions shall recycle water within the production cycle, adopting treatment that make discharges compatible with the reuse of industrial water, including produced water, in the same production cycle or by third parties (e.g. local communities, other plants), instead of discharging it as wastewater.
To identify possible improvements in water management for its sites and to foster initiatives for increasing water sustainable practices, Eni has adopted a methodological approach based on the following steps:
- A country-based framework study, to properly understand the context and the current situation of water resources and water-related risks in countries where Eni operates;
- A site level Water Balance, gathering quantitative information related to water management, and in particular on water quality, sources, uses, and final destinations of water streams. The objective is to gain a better overview and control of how water is managed/used within the site.
- Site initiatives: feasibility studies are performed with the aim of identifying initiatives and implement projects for the reuse and valorization of produced water, as well as for the reduction/optimization of high-quality water withdrawals, both for domestic and industrial uses, within and outside the operative site.
Through this approach, water risks associated with operations are being analyzed in detail, allowing to address a wide range of opportunities for the improvement of water management, also through the development of new synergies with local communities.
