Date

Sasol is increasing its competitiveness in the highly contested alcohol production market by bringing new capacity on line and simultaneously restructuring capacity in some inefficient operations. Commercial production of a new 60 000 metric tonnes a year oleochemical-based alcohols plant in Lianyangang, China, has commenced, while 50%, or some 65 000 metric tonnes a year of oxo-alcohol capacity at the Augusta plant in Italy, will be idled for an indefinite period of time.

"This optimization process forms part our comprehensive restructuring of the Sasol Olefins & Surfactants business. The rigorous turnaround of this operation reflects a significant improvement in restoring profitability and acceptable returns in challenging market conditions," says Reiner Groh, executive director of the Sasol Chemical Business Cluster.
 
Sasol Olefins & Surfactants is a prominent global supplier of alcohols with a total capacity in excess of 600,000 metric tonnes per annum, and manufacturing plants in Europe, the United States, South Africa and China.
 
The Wilmar China Investment (Yihai) and Sasol Olefins & Surfactants joint venture oleochemical- based plant with a nameplate capacity of 60 000 metric tons per annum recently became operational. "We are extremely satisfied that the plant was able to start up very close to on schedule and under budget," says Kuok Khoon Hong, CEO and chairman of Wilmar.
 
"We are positioning this plant to become a key supplier to the fast growing Chinese alcohol market," says MD of Sasol Olefins & Surfactants, Hannes Botha.
 
According to Botha, the idling of about 65 000 tonnes of oxo-alcohol capacity at its Augusta plant in Italy is enabled by restructuring upstream paraffin and olefin operations which provide the feedstock for alcohol production. Part of the reduced capacity will be replaced by alcohols produced at other plants in Sasol's network and the capacity reduction programme is anticipated to be completed by June 2008. Fixed and variable costs will also be reduced at Augusta.
 
Sasol is the only producer utilising oleochemical, petrochemical and coal-based feedstocks. This enables the group to offer the broadest portfolio of products to customers, including linear, semi-linear, and branched alcohols, as well as tailor-made single fractions and blends to meet specific customer requirements.
 
Alcohol is used in a broad spectra of industrial, household and personal care products, including detergents, paints, varnishes aftershave lotions, deodorants and perfumes.
 
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Media Disclaimer - 2013/10/09

Forward-looking statements: Sasol may, in this document, make certain statements that are not historical facts and relate to analyses and other information which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements may also relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding exchange rate fluctuations, volume growth, increases in market share, total shareholder return and cost reductions. Words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend”, “seek”, “will”, “plan”, “could”, “may”, “endeavour” and “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and there are risks that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. You should understand that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors are discussed more fully in our most recent annual report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on Form 20-F filed on 9 October 2013 and in other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The list of factors discussed therein is not exhaustive; when relying on forward-looking statements to make investment decisions, you should carefully consider both these factors and other uncertainties and events. Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Sasol is increasing its competitiveness in the highly contested alcohol production market by bringing new capacity on line and simultaneously restructuring capacity in some inefficient operations. Commercial production of a new 60 000 metric tonnes a year oleochemical-based alcohols plant in Lianyangang, China, has commenced, while 50%, or some 65 000 metric tonnes a year of oxo-alcohol capacity at the Augusta plant in Italy, will be idled for an indefinite period of time.

"This optimization process forms part our comprehensive restructuring of the Sasol Olefins & Surfactants business. The rigorous turnaround of this operation reflects a significant improvement in restoring profitability and acceptable returns in challenging market conditions," says Reiner Groh, executive director of the Sasol Chemical Business Cluster.
 
Sasol Olefins & Surfactants is a prominent global supplier of alcohols with a total capacity in excess of 600,000 metric tonnes per annum, and manufacturing plants in Europe, the United States, South Africa and China.
 
The Wilmar China Investment (Yihai) and Sasol Olefins & Surfactants joint venture oleochemical- based plant with a nameplate capacity of 60 000 metric tons per annum recently became operational. "We are extremely satisfied that the plant was able to start up very close to on schedule and under budget," says Kuok Khoon Hong, CEO and chairman of Wilmar.
 
"We are positioning this plant to become a key supplier to the fast growing Chinese alcohol market," says MD of Sasol Olefins & Surfactants, Hannes Botha.
 
According to Botha, the idling of about 65 000 tonnes of oxo-alcohol capacity at its Augusta plant in Italy is enabled by restructuring upstream paraffin and olefin operations which provide the feedstock for alcohol production. Part of the reduced capacity will be replaced by alcohols produced at other plants in Sasol's network and the capacity reduction programme is anticipated to be completed by June 2008. Fixed and variable costs will also be reduced at Augusta.
 
Sasol is the only producer utilising oleochemical, petrochemical and coal-based feedstocks. This enables the group to offer the broadest portfolio of products to customers, including linear, semi-linear, and branched alcohols, as well as tailor-made single fractions and blends to meet specific customer requirements.
 
Alcohol is used in a broad spectra of industrial, household and personal care products, including detergents, paints, varnishes aftershave lotions, deodorants and perfumes.
 
ends