The first research abroad and the Mattei formula
In 1954, the first country he turned to was Nasser's Egypt. It's here that for the first time Eni applied a new contractual formula, later to become known in history as the "Mattei formula", which would revolutionize the oil industry. The new agreement provides for equal participation in the extraction and marketing of crude oil and greater share in the profit through the establishment of a joint venture between Eni and the host country. In this way the Egyptians (but soon the Iranians, the Tunisians, the Libyans, the Algerians) will work together with the Italians, acquiring all the know-how necessary to build their own national oil industry. Mattei, with his skills, also exports a quality that he knows well and that he transferred to Eni: pride. He made African countries, which had recently emerged from the colonial era, realize the importance, not only economic, of being holders of energy sources. Pride, skills and courage will ensure within a few years, the producing countries become aware of the extraordinary heritage they had at their disposal, leading them to found OPEC in 1960.