Sasol orders new reactor as part of Synfuels expansion to meet SA growing demand for fuel

18 October 2007

Sasol today confirmed that it had awarded a contract to Japanese manufacturer, Hitachi Zosen Mechanical Corporation (HMC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Zosen Corporation, to construct a Sasol Advanced Synthol (SAS) reactor.

The new SAS reactor is needed for Sasol to increase its 150 000 barrel a day (b/d) synthetic fuels operation at Secunda in South Africa by 20% to 180,000 b/d by 2015. Sasol uses it's advanced Synthol reactors to produce synthesis gas which is converted into a large range of valuable 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," says Sasol executive director Dr Benny Mokaba.

"We have constructed seven similar reactors for Sasol since 1998, and, as one of the leading reactor fabricators in the world, will continuously strive to supply high quality and effective equipment that enhances the development of clean and environmentally friendly new energy resources, " says Hisao Matsuwake, president of HMC.

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. Sasol has designed and perfected these reactors to convert coal and natural gas into high quality synthetic transportation fuels such as petrol, diesel and jet fuel, as well as a range of chemicals.

"Innovation is core to our culture as exemplified by our proprietary coal- and gas-to-liquid conversion technology, where Sasol is recognised as a global leader. Our scientists have over the past 50 years evolved this synthetic transportation fuel technology to levels where South Africa can significantly reduce its dependence on crude oil," says Mokaba.

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