Sasol today announced the construction of a purified tri-ethyl aluminum (TEAL) production unit at its Sasol Olefins & Surfactants (O&S) plant in Brunsbüttel, Germany. The facility, with an initial annual production of a 6 000 tons, is expected to go on stream early 2012.

 
Sasol O&S is the world's largest producer of tri-ethyl aluminum during the production of alcohols at its Ziegler unit in Brunsbüttel, Germany and Lake Charles, LA, USA. The unit will enable Sasol to further benefit from of its existing strong position in the production and captive supply of TEAL. "Leveraging the existing base product allows Sasol to enter this growing market relatively quickly with quality and availability assured", said André de Ruyter, Sasol Group general manager responsible for the chemical businesses. "It will increase our ability to supply customers around the world".
 
Given Sasol's position in linear alpha-olefins and polymers markets, the company has experience with the use of TEAL in these two application areas. Sasol has also signed a cooperation agreement with a leading gas-phase polypropylene technology provider to qualify the application of Sasol's TEAL in their sensitive production process. "With its many years of experience in the handling of TEAL Sasol is able to ensure rigorous adherence to all safety requirements along the entire supply chain," said Fleetwood Grobler, Managing Director of Sasol O&S. "It also ensures the safe and reliable supply of a high quality, key co-catalyst over long distances to customers world-wide".
 
Since the new plant will only utilise a small portion of available Ziegler plant resources, Sasol remains well positioned to develop additional capacity, to meet future market demands.
 
About Sasol O&S
Sasol Olefins & Surfactants (O&S) belongs to Sasol Limited, an integrated energy and chemical company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The international chemical company manufactures and markets a broad range of organic and inorganic products, such as C6-C22 alcohols, linear alkyl benzene, surfactants and oleochemicals, as well as inorganic specialty chemicals such as aluminas (hydroxides and oxides), silica-aluminas and hydrotalcites. The products are used in detergents, cleaners, paint and coatings, personal care products as well as in catalysts, high performance abrasives and polymer additives. Sasol O&S has a large global footprint with its presence in 15 countries around the world. The company employs about 3,000 people and runs 13 production sites in seven countries, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Dubai, USA, South Africa and China, and participates in a joint-venture with Wilmar China Investment (Yihai) in China.
 
Contact:
Claudia Wagner, Manager Communication & Public Affairs Sasol O&S
Phone: +49 40 63684 1408 | Mobile: +49 163 63 684 75
E-mail: claudia.wagner@de.sasol.com
 
Nothemba Noruwana, Group media manager Sasol Limited
Direct telephone +27 (0) 11 441 3295 | Mobile +27 (0) 82 329 0186
nothemba.noruwana@sasol.com