Over 600 mn for first Mattei Plan projects

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 17 - Italy has earmarked over 600 million euros for the first projects in its ambitious Mattei Plan for development in African countries to help deter migrants from leaving for Italy and Europe, according to a statement on the implementation of the plan sent to the Lower House Sunday after the first six months' activity of the mission structure.
    The Italian contribution to phase 2 of the development of the "Lobito Corridor", the new railway connection between Angola and the copper mining region in Zambia, is expected to reach up to 320 million dollars, just over 300 million euros.
    Among the 22 project sheets, there is also one in Kenya for the expansion of the production of vegetable oil for advanced biofuels, whose executor is Eni Kenya in partnership with the local Ministry of Agriculture: it is financed with 71 million by the Italian Climate Fund, amplifying a financing of 128 million by the International Finance Corporation (World Bank), for a total package of about 200 million. (ANSA).