Enrico Mattei

Enrico Mattei was an influential Italian businessman and statesman who founded ENI, Italy’s major oil and gas company, in the 1950s. He played a key role in reducing Italy’s dependence on foreign energy, negotiating direct deals with oil-producing countries and resisting multinational corporations' influence. Mattei promoted Italy’s energy independence and economic growth through strategic resource management. His efforts transformed Italy’s energy landscape, making ENI a significant global player. Tragically, he died in a plane crash in 1962, with some suspecting politics and corporate interests were involved due to his influential reforms.