27-02-2015

Sasol appoints Air Liquide to build world’s largest oxygen production facility

Sasol and Air Liquide have signed an agreement under which Air Liquide will invest around €200 million in the construction of the largest Air Separation Unit (ASU) ever built at Sasol’s synthetic fuels and chemicals complex in Secunda, South Africa.

Through this agreement, Air Liquide will build, own and operate a 5000 tonne per day air separation train to supply oxygen and nitrogen to Sasol’s proprietary synthetic fuels and chemicals manufacturing process. This is the 17th train to be built at Sasol’s Secunda complex.

Using the latest air separation technology and economies of scale, this train will be the most energy efficient oxygen train on the Secunda site with a significantly reduced impact on the environment. The oxygen capacity created enables Sasol to operate this complex up to the middle of the century, which is a cornerstone of the group’s Project 2050 strategy.

At a signing ceremony held last night in Johannesburg, David Constable, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sasol Limited commented: “This contract represents a significant milestone in our 40-year partnership with Air Liquide, as it is the first time that Sasol will outsource our oxygen needs to a specialist of industrial gas production at our Secunda complex. The oxygen provided by Air Liquide will be used by Sasol for the production of synthetic fuels, which will serve to benefit the South African economy.”

Benoît Potier, Chairman and CEO of Air Liquide, commented: “Air Liquide is very pleased to be strengthening its relationship with its longstanding business partner, Sasol. The cutting edge technology which will be implemented on this project confirms our leadership in oxygen production technology, and we are delighted to announce the achievement of another major milestone in the history of the Group."

Constable concluded: “Sasol is a proud South African corporation, and our commitment to the country and the region remains unequivocal. Our Southern Africa enhancement and growth programmes represent a core component of our global advancement strategy. This agreement with Air Liquide represents another one of our key domestic initiatives through which we will be able to sustain and expand our integrated value chain to 2050.”