Petrochemicals group Sasol has signed a long-term agreement with French multinational Air Liquide for the supply of large quantities of industrial gases to Sasol Secunda.
The deal would see Air Liquide invest about €200-million on the construction of what it says is the largest air separation unit (ASU) ever built. The ASU would have a total capacity of 5 000 t/d of oxygen, which would be used for the production of synthetic fuels.
Air Liquide would design, build, own and operate the ASU, which was expected to be commissioned by December 2017 and would add a new source of oxygen and argon to supply the growing industrial gases market in South Africa.
Air Liquide CEO and chairperson Benoît Potier commented that the company was pleased to strengthen its relationship with Sasol and to reaffirm its commitment to South Africa.
“The cutting edge technology which will be implemented on this project confirms our leadership in oxygen production technology and we are extremely proud to announce the achievement of another major milestone in the history of the group," he added.
Sasol CEO and president David Constable noted that the implementation and operation of the new ASU by Air Liquide would bring world-class expertise to Sasol’s Secunda site and guarantee a long-term reliable and competitive source of oxygen.
“As South Africa is the cornerstone of our global operations, the efficiency this project brings to Sasol will contribute to the South African economy and to the country as a whole,” he said.
OTHER ASUs
Last year, Afrox commissioned a R300-million 150 t/d ASU in Zone 3 of the Coega industrial development zone, near Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape.
Air Products South Africa also officially launched its 2 500 t/d R800-million ASU at the company's Vanderbijlpark facility, in Gauteng, in June 2014.