Sasol is a diversified petrochemical company with production facilities in South Africa and several other countries worldwide. It produces more than 200 fuel and chemical products that are exported to 90 countries around the world. Its principal feedstocks are obtained from coal, which the company converts into value-added hydrocarbons through Fischer-Tropsch process technologies, but also using other hydrocarbon feedstocks in Sasol's global petrochemicals plants.
Sasol also has interests in crude oil refining and chemicals production and marketing through a number of global partners or joint ventures worldwide.
History
The history of Sasol dates back to 1927 when a white paper was tabled in parliament to investigate the establishment of an oil-from-coal industry in South Africa. It was realised then that South Africa did not have any crude oil reserves and that the country's balance of payments had to be protected against increasing crude oil imports.
After many years of research and international negotiations, the company was eventually formed in 1950. Sasol was listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in 1979 and on the New York Nasdaq stock market in 1982.
The Sasol group comprises eight main subsidiaries, which are organised into five divisions:
Chemicals
Sasol's chemical businesses provide the vast proportion of the group's turnover and include Sasol Olefins & Surfactants, Sasol Polymers, Sasol Solvents, Sasol Wax, Sasol Nitro and various other chemical businesses which include Sasol Infrachem, Merisol and African Amines.
Synfuels
Sasol Synfuels operates the world's only coal-based synfuels manufacturing facility located at Secunda. It uses Sasol Fischer-Tropsch technology to produce synthesis gas from coal and to convert this feedstock into petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, chemical feedstock's and industrial pipeline gas. Sasol Synfuels produces many of South Africa's chemical building blocks, including ethylene, propylene, ammonia, phenolics and solvents.
Oil & Gas
Sasol Oil markets the group's liquid fuels, lubricants and tar-derived products manufactured by Sasol Synfuels, Natref and other plants. Products include petrol, diesel, jet fuel, fuel alcohol, illuminating paraffin, fuel oils, cokes, creosotes and other tar-derived products. It oversees Sasol's joint-venture interests in the Natref oil refinery and the Tosas bituminous products manufacturer and marketer.
Sasol Gas Holdings markets and distributes Sasol's hydrogen-rich gas and methane-rich gas produced at Sasolburg and Secunda, respectively. Sasol's entry into methane rich gas production and exploration has expanded activity into southern and West Africa. The company delivers pipeline gas through a 1550km pipeline network to more than 500 industrial and commercial customers in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZuluNatal.
Sasol will concentrate on pioneering its new generation gas to liquids (GTL) technology on a global scale. Project work for the construction of the $950m plant has commenced in Qatar. Sasol has also been awarded a GTL project in Nigeria. Gas rich regions such as Australasia, the Middle East and the Caribbean are under review.
Through the Mozambique natural gas project in the Temane and Pande gas fields, pipeline gas will be supplied to customers in Mozambique and South Africa.
Mining
Sasol Mining supplies coal to Sasol Synfuels, Sasol Infrachem and international customers from two regional operations. Sigma Colliery, near Sasolburg, consisting of the Sigma/Mohlolo underground and Wonderwater strip-mining operations; and Secunda Collieries (Bosjesspruit, Brandspruit, Middelbult, Twistdraai and Twistdraai Export underground operations) and the nearby Syferfontein underground and strip-mine operations.
Other
Sasol Synfuels International (SSI) develops and implements international ventures based on the integrated, three-step Sasol slurry phase distillate (SPD) process for GTL conversion. SSI also explores, for international beneficiation, opportunities based on coal and other hydrocarbon sources that could entail the use of competitive Sasol Fischer-Tropsch synthesis technology.
Sasol Petroleum International (SPI) develops and manages our international upstream interests in oil and gas exploration and production from offices at London and Johannesburg. These interests are concentrated in Mozambique, South Africa, Gabon, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
Sasol Technology is Sasol's business partner in the fields of research and development, technology and innovation, engineering and project management. The company fulfils a strategic role by helping Sasol businesses worldwide to pursue growth and continuous improvement opportunities and to promote competitive advantage through appropriate technology solutions and services.
Sasol Financing is responsible for managing group cash and liquidity, in-house banking, domestic and international financing arrangements, foreign exchange, treasury risk and general treasury matters.
Sasol
Strategy & Financial Highlights
Sasol will concentrate on its strategy of “investing for growth”. Sasol believes that it has a good business strategy, exciting and achievable growth plans and competitive technologies. Even though it says the variability of the business environment in which Sasol operates makes it difficult to forecast likely trends for oil, chemical and associated prices and margins, the company has set its sights on achieving further growth in headline earnings in years to come. (Edited from annual report and company website). ICIS also provides you with key financial data listed in table form.
More about Sasol Strategy & Financial Highlights
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