Sasol to Boost Synthetic Fuels Output at Secunda by 20%

19 October 2007

Sasol will boost the synthetic fuels output at its Secunda plant in South Africa to 180,000 barrels per day by 2015—a 20% increase from the current output of 150,000 barrels per day.

The company has awarded a contract to Hitachi Zosen Mechanical Corporation (HMC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Zosen Corporation, to construct a Sasol Advanced Synthol (SAS) reactor to enable the expansion. Sasol uses its advanced Synthol reactors to produce synthesis gas which is converted into a large range of liquid fuels and chemical products.

Sasol supplies about 35% of South Africa’s liquid fuel needs. The Secunda expansion project will help us meet major growth opportunities in both our domestic and international markets. We will use both natural gas and coal as feedstock to produce our advanced range of synthetic transportation fuels

—Sasol executive director Dr Benny Mokaba

The SAS reactor will weigh about 867 tons, be 8m in diameter and about 12 stories (38m) tall. Sasol currently uses nine SAS reactors at Secunda. HMC has manufactured seven similar reactors for Sasol since 1998.