NANJING, China, July 10,
2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sasol Limited, an
international integrated chemicals and energy company, today
announced the opening of its new alkoxylation plant in Nanjing. This facility – the company's largest
expansion project in China – will
more than double its alkoxylation production capacity in the region
and will be supported by growing research and development and
technical customer support capabilities.
Mr Bongani Nqwababa, Joint
President and CEO of Sasol, Ms. Debora Balatseng, Charge'd Affairs
of South African Embassy in China,
and Ms. Mpho Hlahla, Consul General
Shanghai, South African Consulate-General, attended the
ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate this milestone achievement.
Chinese government officials in attendance at the ceremony included
Mr. Zhou Jinliang, Executive Deputy Director of Nanjing Jiangbei
New Area Administrative Committee, and Mr. BIAN Zhongwu, Director
of Nanjing Jiangbei New Materials High-Tech Park, along with other
Sasol executives and employees, business partners and
customers.
"Our expansion in China
underpins our chemicals business ambitions to diversify
geographically, participate in high-growth markets and grow in
differentiated applications. For more than 25 years, we have been
active in providing high-quality surfactants in China, where we see ongoing shifts towards
high value and differentiated segments," said Nqwababa.
"I am confident this expansion will enable us to better support
local customer requirements and our pursuit for continued long-term
growth in the world's most important emerging market," he
added.
Located at the Nanjing Jiangbei New Material Hi-Tech Park
(formerly known as Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park), construction
of this 35-acre site commenced in June
2017 and the plant reached beneficial operation in April
this year. The plant will expand Sasol's current alkoxylation
capability to approximately 150 kilotons per annum (ktpa), with
additional facilities for the production of anionic
surfactants.
The new plant can operate using either branched or linear
alcohols to meet the differentiated customer requirements in
applications such as detergents, personal care, textile and
leather, metalworking and lubrication, inks, paints and coatings,
as well oil and gas, enhanced oil recovery and industrial
cleaning.
As the first fully Sasol-owned production facility in
Asia, Sasol has been a producer of
surfactants, including non-ionic alcohol ethoxylates as well as
anionic alcohol ether sulfates, in China since 1992. The project is not only a
significant expansion of Sasol's current operational footprint in
the market, but also the first step towards a robust,
differentiated expansion strategy for Sasol's Performance Chemicals
business throughout the broader Asian region.
"Comprising state-of-the-art process technology, the plant will
operate to the highest standards of operational safety, reliability
and flexibility. Furthermore, this technology allows us to minimise
environmental impacts in full compliance with stringent
environmental protection measures set by the government," said
Shentu Hongxing, Vice President Operations China and Managing
Director Sasol China. "We look forward to making a larger
contribution to both the regional economy and a greener environment
– all while continuing to serve our customers with high quality
tailored solutions."
About Sasol
Sasol is a global integrated chemicals and
energy company. Through our talented people, we safely and
sustainably create superior value for our customers, shareholders
and other stakeholders. We integrated sophisticated technologies in
world-scale operating facilities to produce and commercialise
commodity and specialised chemicals, gaseous and liquid fuels.
Issued by:
Matebello Motloung, Senior Specialist:
Media Relations
Direct telephone: +27 (0) 10 344 9256; Mobile: +27 (0)
82 773 9457
matebello.motloung@sasol.com