Andrea Molteni

2. During your time at STX, you have been building the trading desk for the biofuels market. What excites you the most about this work? How do you stay motivated and enthusiastic in this fast-paced and dynamic environment?

Having the autonomy to develop our trading desk in the most suitable and sustainable way has been truly inspiring and it has fostered my creativity and innovation, making each day both challenging and rewarding. Building a trading desk from scratch is a unique and dynamic challenge that keeps me constantly engaged. At STX, our value “we are forever entrepreneurial” shines through our spirit of ownership, continuous improvement and swift, diligent action, which keeps me passionate and focused on the work that I do.

To stay motivated, I prioritize continuous learning by keeping up with market trends and industry developments. I reflect on our successes and challenges to improve our strategies and for personal growth. Building strong relationships with colleagues and industry peers is also crucial, offering support and fresh perspectives. Finally, a good work-life balance is essential to stay refreshed and motivated.

4. You’ve mentioned that your job at STX marked a commercial shift in your biofuels career. What key skills have you found to be crucial for thriving in this role?

In my role at STX, several key skills have been essential for success. Autonomy is crucial, as independently finding solutions is central to the job. A strong market vision is vital for understanding market dynamics and making informed decisions.

Additionally, I’ve developed strong commercial skills, crucial for managing relationships, negotiating effectively and understanding the nuances of deals—money is very often in the details! Plus, solid analytical skills are indispensable for interpreting data and creating effective trading strategies.

One of our core values at STX is “we build for the long run,” which is essential when building a robust trading desk, as the focus needs to be on sustainable strategies over quick wins. Ethical behavior is non-negotiable, ensuring trust and integrity. Moreover, effective risk management balances potential rewards with risks, while decisiveness and adaptability are key to navigating this constantly evolving market and making quick, informed decisions and to adjust strategies accordingly.

6. You’ve already highlighted a good work-life balance as crucial to keep yourself motivated. How do you maintain this balance effectively?

Balancing a demanding career with personal life can be challenging, especially in trading where being on top of market demands is crucial. The key to a good work-life balance is flexibility.

By being flexible and adaptable to market needs, I am fully present when it matters most and take personal time when the market is less active. This give-and-take approach helps me effectively manage both work responsibilities and personal well-being.

The support from my team at STX also plays a significant role. We respect each other’s time and work together to ensure that everyone maintains a healthy balance. The flexible and collaborative environment STX provides is the secret to achieving a sustainable work-life balance.

The EU has set an ambitious target to achieve 35 bcm of sustainable biomethane production by 2030 as part of REPowerEU. To progress in that direction, what should be the next climate regulation and industry priorities?

Several factors can drive a faster uptake of biomethane. Its potential for decarbonization and reducing energy dependency in Europe, combined with relying on proven technology, has led to substantial capital inflow into the sector over the past years. Although production capacity is rapidly growing, deploying all that capital is not always easy. To create an attractive investment opportunity, it’s essential to secure feedstock supply, grid connection, various permits and viable offtake contracts. While policies like RED III, FuelEU Maritime and local subsidy schemes and blending obligations help stimulate production, more action is needed, particularly in regions where substantial feedstock is available but not yet being utilized. Furthermore, local authorities and institutions need to better prioritize permitting and grid connections for biogas plants, a topic that somehow still sometimes is controversial in countries. Producers themselves also constantly need to seek to improve plant economics and overall decarbonization impact, to make their business case more attractive. One example of this is incorporating CO2 capture in their facilities to allow for improving biomethane product quality and monetizing the liquid CO2 stream by e.g. supplying e-fuels producers (CCU) or transporting the product into permanent storage (CCS).