NANJING, China, June 8,
2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Sasol Limited (JSE: SOL; NYSE: SSL), a leading integrated
chemicals and energy company, formally began construction of its
new alkoxylation plant in Nanjing,
Jiangsu Province. Ushered in by a
ground-breaking ceremony on June 8th
at the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park (NCIP), the new plant is
expected to be fully operational in early 2019.
The ceremony was presided by Fleetwood
Grobler, Executive Vice President of Chemicals Business,
Sasol, and attended by Miao Ruilin, the Mayor of Nanjing; Dolana Msimang, the South African
Ambassador to China;
representatives from South African diplomatic missions in
China and NCIP officials.
The new production unit will modernise and expand Sasol's
current alkoxylation capacity, research and development facility
and technical support capability in Nanjing. Through this strategic investment,
Sasol will strengthen its position in China and better meet the growing demand for
specialty chemicals in this important growth market.
This project entails the construction of an alkoxylation plant
with a capacity of approximately 150 kilo tons per annum (ktpa),
with the option of using either branched or linear alcohols to meet
differentiated customer requirements in applications, such as
detergent, personal care, textiles and leather, metal working and
lubrication, paper inks and coatings and the oil and gas recovery
markets.
"With China's economy forecast to represent 40% of the world
chemical demand by 2020 and its on-going shift towards high value
and differentiated segments, China
is an important market for Sasol," said Fleetwood Grobler, Executive Vice President of
Chemicals Business, Sasol. "The new production unit will more than
double Sasol's alkoxylation production capacity and Sasol's
state-of-the-art technology offers our business partners
significant benefits in terms of safety, reliability and
flexibility."
The new site, to be located in NCIP, occupies about 35 acres
representing a significant expansion of the existing footprint.
Through this project, Sasol will be able to offer a range of
diversified products to optimally serve this growing market by
combining a unique portfolio of building blocks and extensive
global experience. Sasol will continue to comply with the highest
standards of environment, health and safety and is committed to a
sustainable development in China.
About Sasol:
Sasol is an international integrated chemicals and energy
company that leverages technologies and the expertise of our 30,300
people working in 33 countries. We develop and commercialise
technologies, and build and operate world-scale facilities to
produce a range of high-value product streams, including liquid
fuels, chemicals and low-carbon electricity.
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 27 September 2016
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.
SOURCE Sasol Limited