Sasol
This article needs to be updated.(February 2022) |
Predecessor | Suid-Afrikaanse Steenkool-, OLie- en Gasmaatskappy |
---|---|
Founded | 1950 |
Headquarters | , South Africa |
Key people | Stephen Westwell (Independent non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Board) Fleetwood Grobler (Executive Director, President and CEO) |
Revenue | $12.26 billion (2020) |
$(7.15) billion (2020) | |
$(5.867) billion (2020) | |
Number of employees | 30,100[citation needed] |
Website | www |
Sasol Limited is an integrated energy and chemical company based in
Sasol is listed on the
History
The incorporation of Sasol
South Africa has large deposits of coal, which had low commercial value due to its high
Coal mining
To support the required economies of scale for
Today, Sasol mines more than 40 million tons (Mt)[11] of saleable coal a year, mostly gasification feedstock for Sasol Synfuels in Secunda. Sasol Mining also exports some 2.8 Mt of coal a year. This amounts to roughly 22% of all the coal mined in South Africa. Underground mining operations continue in the Secunda area (Bosjesspruit, Brandspruit, Middelbult, Syferfontein, and Twistdraai collieries) and Sigma: Mooikraal colliery near Sasolburg. As some of these mines are nearing the end of their useful lives, a R14bn mine replacement program has been undertaken. The first of the new mines is the R3.4bn Thubelisha shaft, which will eventually be an operation delivering more than 8M tons/annum (mtpa) of coal over 25 years. The Impumelelo mine, which will replace the Brandspruit operation, is set for first production in 2015. It will be ramped up to produce 8.5 mtpa, and can later be upgraded to supplying some 10.5 mtpa. This coal will be used exclusively by the Sasol Synfuels plant. An underground extension of the Middelbult mine is also on the cards, with the main shaft and incline shaft being replaced by the Shondoni shaft. The first coal from the new complex was expected to be delivered in 2015.[12]The Secunda collieries form the world's largest underground coal operations.[13]
In conjunction with the continuous improvement in the Fischer–Tropsch process and catalyst, significant developments were also made in mining technology. Coal mining at Sasol from the early days has been characterised by innovation. Sasol Mining mainly uses the
Fischer–Tropsch reactor technology
The initial reactors from Kellogg and Lurgi gasifiers were tricky and expensive to operate. The original reactor design in 1955 was a circulating
From fuels to chemicals
The fuel price is directly linked to the oil price, so is subject to potentially large fluctuations. With Sasol only producing fuels, this meant that its profitability was largely governed by external macroeconomic forces over which it had no control. How could Sasol be less susceptible to the oil price? The answer was right in front of them, in the treasure chest of chemicals co-produced in the Fischer–Tropsch process.
In the 1960s ammonia, styrene, and butadiene became the first chemical intermediates sold by Sasol. The ammonia was then used to make fertilizers. By 1964, Sasol was a major player in the nitrogenous fertilizer market. This product range was further extended in the 1980s to include both phosphate- and potassium-based fertilizers. Sasol now sells an extensive range of fertilizers and explosives to local and international markets, and is a world leader in its low-density ammonium nitrate technology.[16]
With the extraction of chemicals from its Fischer–Tropsch product slate coupled with downstream functionalization and on-purpose chemical production facilities, Sasol moved from being just a South African fuels company to become an international integrated energy and chemicals company with over 200 chemical products being sold worldwide. Some of the main products produced are diesel, petrol (
In South Africa, the chemical businesses are integrated in the Fischer–Tropsch value chain. Outside South Africa, the company operates chemical businesses based on backward integration into feedstock and/or competitive market positions for example in Europe, Asia, and the United States.[17]
Operations
Sasol has exploration, development, production, marketing and sales operations in 31 countries across the world, including Southern Africa, the rest of Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East (West Asia), Russia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania.[18]
The Sasol group structure is organised into two upstream business units, three regional operating hubs and four customer-facing strategic business units.[7]
Operating business units
Operating Business Units comprise the mining division and exploration and production of oil and gas activities, focused on feedstock supply.[19]
Sasol Mining operates six coal mines that supply feed-stock for
Sasol Exploration and Production International (SEPI) develops and manages the group's upstream interests in oil and gas exploration and production in Mozambique, South Africa, Canada, Gabon, and Australia.[20]
Regional operating hubs
These include operations in Southern Africa, North America and Eurasia.[21]
The Southern African Operations business cluster is responsible for Sasol's entire Southern Africa operations portfolio, which comprises all downstream operations and related infrastructure in the region. This combined operational portfolio has simplified and consolidated responsibilities relating to the company's operating facilities in Secunda, which are divided into a synthetic fuels and chemicals component, Sasolburg, Natref, Sasol's joint-venture inland refinery with TotalEnergies, and Satellite Operations, a consolidation of all Sasol's operating activities outside of Secunda and Sasolburg.[22]
The International Operations business cluster is responsible for Sasol's international operations in Eurasia and North America, which include its US mega-projects in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[23]
Strategic business units
Energy business
- Southern Africa Energy
- International Energy
The energy business manages the marketing and sales of all oil, gas and electricity products in Southern Africa, which have been consolidated under a single umbrella. In addition, this cluster oversees Sasol's international GTL (gas to liquids) ventures in Qatar, Nigeria and Uzbekistan.[24]
Chemical business
- Base Chemicals
- Performance Chemicals
The global chemicals business includes the marketing and sales of all chemical products, both in southern Africa and internationally. The chemicals business is divided into two niche groupings; Base Chemicals, where its fertilisers, polymers and solvents products lie, and performance chemicals, comprising key products which include
In South Africa, the chemical businesses are integrated into the
Group functions
Group Technology manages the research and development, technology innovation and management, engineering services and capital project management portfolios. Group Technology includes Research and Technology (R&T), Engineering and Project Services and Capital Projects.[26]
Major projects
United States
Sasol has granted final approval for a US$11 billion
By January 2015 construction was in full swing. At peak the project will create 5000 construction and 1200 permanent jobs and cost $11 billion to $14 billion.[32]
Qatar
The
Uzbekistan
The proposed Uzbekistan GTL project is a partnership between Sasol, Uzbekneftegaz and Petronas.[35][36][37] Sasol reconsidered its involvement in March 2016
Mozambique
Sasol is developing a 140 MW gas-fired electricity generation plant in partnership with power utility EDM.[38] This gas project came into operation in 2004, and is a joint venture agreement between Sasol Petroleum International, Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH), and the International Finance Corporation.
Technology
This section contains content that is written like an advertisement. (October 2021) |
Natref Refinery
Sasol is also involved in conventional
Controversies
In 2009 Sasol agreed to pay an administrative penalty of R188 million as part of a settlement agreement with the Competition Commission of South Africa for alleged price fixing, in which a competitor alleged that Sasol was abusing its dominance in the markets for fertilisers by charging excessive prices for certain products. Sasol won an appeal on the case and will not be paying the settlement anymore.[45]
Sasol also had to pay a €318 million fine to the European Commission (EC) in 2008, which is about R3.7 billion, for participating in a paraffin wax cartel. Despite its indication that it would appeal the fine amount, the full amount had to be paid to the EC within three months of the fine being issued.[46][47]
Sasol has been levied with a R1.2bn tax provision by the Tax Court on 30 June 2017 on the back of its international crude oil purchases between 2005 and 2012. In its 2017 financial results announced on 21 August 2017, the chemical conglomerate agreed upon footing the R1.2bn tax liability. If the court's interpretation is implemented for the following two years – 2013 and 2014 – Sasol Oil's crude purchases could result in a further tax exposure of R11.6bn, thus summing up a total tax figure up to R12.8bn.[48]
A $4 billion cost and schedule overrun at Sasol's Lake Charles project resulted in the resignation of the joint CEOs in October 2019. Adverse weather, poor subsurface conditions, and a "culture of fear" which undermined transparent reporting, were cited as contributing reasons for the over-runs.[49][50][51][52]
Greenhouse gas emissions
Due to the stoichiometry of hydrogen production by coal gasification and the Fischer Tropsch reaction, the production of Sasol Secunda's liquid fuels result in some of the highest specific GHG emissions in the world.
Sasol's Secunda CTL plant is, as of 2020, the world's largest point source of greenhouse gas, at 56.5 Mt/a CO2.[53]
Sasol is exploring alternatives such as green hydrogen which is currently being produced by the electrolysers at the Sasolburg plant. These are powered by renewable energy in the form of a 3 MW solar farm.[54]
Air Liquide acquired 16 of Sasol's energy intensive cryogenic air separation trains in 2020 which are capable of producing 42 000 t/d of pure oxygen. [55]
Sasol and Air Liquide plan to purchase 900 MW of renewable electricity as wind and solar power to reduce CO2 emissions as per their stated emissions reduction programmes: 30% reduction in CO2 from the FY17 baseline by 2030. [56] [57]
See also
- List of petroleum companies
- Fischer–Tropsch process
- Coal gasification commercialization
References
- ^ "Company Overview | Sasol". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "GEPF - Home". www.gepf.gov.za. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Home - Industrial Development Corporation". www.idc.co.za. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Allan Gray | Investment Company | Investment Management". www.allangray.co.za. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Home | Global | Investec Asset Management". www.investecassetmanagement.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Major Shareholders | Sasol". Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ^ a b "About Sasol". Archived from the original on 15 November 2017.
- ^ Donnelly, Lynley (4 July 2008). "Sasol the tax cow". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d "mind over matter". Archived from the original on 8 December 2014.
- ^ a b c Sasol Facts 12/13 Booklet
- ^ "Products | Sasol". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Sasol Secunda & Sasolburg Underground Mining Operations". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Business Overview – Sasol Mining | Sasol". Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
- ^ "Mining Weekly - New coal-exploration technology". www.miningweekly.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ Author, System. "New coal-exploration technology". Mining Weekly. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
{{cite news}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ "fertilizer". Archived from the original on 7 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Overview | Sasol". Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
- ^ "Global presence". Archived from the original on 28 September 2013.
- ^ "Operating Business Units Overview | Sasol". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Sasol Exploration & Production International | Overview". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Overview | Sasol". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Overview | Sasol". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Overview | Sasol". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Overview | Sasol". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Overview | Sasol". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Overview | Sasol". www.sasol.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Sasol and State of Louisiana Join Forces".
- ^ "Sasol and Louisiana". The Wall Street Journal. 3 December 2012. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
- ^ Krauss, Clifford (3 December 2012). "Sasol Plans First Gas-To-Liquids Plant in US". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012.
- ^ "Sasol Spend on Louisiana Plant". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 December 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Sasol Announces Final Investment Decision on World-Scale Ethane Cracker and Derivatives Complex in Louisiana". Archived from the original on 11 November 2014.
- ^ Sayre, Katherine (29 August 2014). "Sasol clears permitting hurdle". Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
- ^ "Sasol and Qatar". The Wall Street Journal. 3 December 2012. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
- ^ "Sasol Reports Rise in SA Output". Mining Weekly. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013.
- ^ "Sasol eyes Uzbek GTL project". Brand South Africa. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^
"Petronas signs Uzbek GTL pact". NHST Media Group. 8 April 2009. Archivedfrom the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Malaysia's Petronas in Uzbekistan oil-production deal". Reuters. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Mozambique Natural Gas Project" (PDF). SASOL. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2013.
- ^ ISBN 9781850652588.
- ^ Technology, United States Congress House Committee on Science and (1980). Oversight of energy development in Africa and the Middle East: report to the Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, second session. U.S. Government Printing Office.
- ^ a b Translations on Sub-Saharan Africa, Issues 2064-2073. United States. Joint Publications Research Service. 1979.
- ^ "Natref to spend R600m". Fin24. 17 May 2005. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ "Natref Refinery". www.total.co.za. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Natref Sasolburg Refinery - A Barrel Full". abarrelfull.wikidot.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Sasol Nitro Settlement and Competition Law Compliance Review". 20 May 2009. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
- ^ "Competition-related fines dent 2009 profit figures". 23 October 2009. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009.
- ^ "Sasol faces R3,7bn price fixing penalty". 2 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013.
- ^ "Sasol prepares for tax battle". Fin24. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ "SENS Article". www.sharedata.co.za. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "S.Africa's Sasol agrees $24 mln settlement in U.S class action suit". Reuters. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Sasol seeks to use leadership 'reset' to rebuild trust in wake of damning LCCP review". www.engineeringnews.co.za. 28 October 2019.
- ^ "UPDATE 2-Sasol joint CEOs step down after review of tarnished U.S. project". Reuters. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "The World's Biggest Emitter of Greenhouse Gases". Bloomberg.com. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ "Hydrogen Ecosystem Proof-Of-Concept Demonstration". Sasol.com. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Air Liquide finalizes the acquisition of the biggest oxygen production site in the world in Secunda, South Africa". AirLiquide.com. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "CLIMATE ACTION". Sasol.com. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Air Liquide and Sasol sign first long-term contract for the supply of renewable energy to the Secunda site". AirLiquide.com. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
External links
- Sasol Official website
- Google Maps view of Sasol's Secunda plant