Name of the Project
Sasol’s Fischer-Tropsch wax expansion project (FTWEP).

Location
The project is located in the Free State, South Africa.

Client
Sasol Performance Chemicals.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of a new wax plant at the Sasol One site, in Sasolburg.

The facility is expected to double the production of hard waxes and increase the production of medium waxes, mostly used for the candle industry in South Africa. It will also increase liquid paraffin production, used in a variety of industrial applications such as adhesives, bitumen used in road construction, and printing ink.

Total production of all wax products is expected to increase by about 65%.

The expansion will be implemented in two phases, the first of which will increase hard-wax capacity by almost 40%.

Jobs to be Created.
Not stated.

Value
Sasol has approved R13.6-billion for the project.

Duration
The project started in 2010.

The first phase of the project was commissioned in June 2015 and the second phase is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2017.

Latest Developments
Sasol reported in its interim results for 2016 that the project was progressing well, with Phase 1 having achieved beneficial operation in May 2015.

Beneficial operation for Phase 2 is on track to take place in the first half of the 2017 calendar year.

Work has started on the Work Pack 3 Phase 2 and Work Pack 6 Phase 2 electrical and instrumentation projects, which are progressing well.

The projects were awarded to Aveng Grinaker-LTA in August 2015 and February 2016 respectively. The new plant comprises two new slurry bed reactors and one common reduction reactor. 

The scope of work includes the supply, installation, testing and handover of plant and materials for part of the electrical and instrumentation component of the project. It also includes the installation of free issue equipment, cold commissioning and assisting with the hot commissioning of the plant.

Aveng Grinaker-LTA completed Phase 1 of the project in July 2015. This included electrical power supply installation, the supply of plant materials and fabrication, as well as site installation, erection, inspection and testing to ensure that the synthesis plant performed optimally.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Foster Wheeler (front-end engineering design); Global Engineering and Construction, a subsidiary of Foster Wheeler (engineering, procurement and construction management); Group Five Civil Engineering (civil and structural works); Energy & Chemicals Group, a subsidiary of The Shaw Group (basic engineering support for the two wax production units, with the company designing the proprietary equipment and optimising the technology); Heaton Valves Africa (valves supplier); Turner & Townsend (client's consultant); Kentz (mechanical and piping work) and Aveng Grinaker-LTA (Work Pack 3 Phase 2 and Work Pack 6 Phase 2 electrical and instrumentation projects).

On Budget and on Time?
The project is proceeding as scheduled. The total cost for both phases of the project remains unchanged at R13.6-billion.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sasol Chemical Industries, tel +27 11 441 3841 or fax +27 11 441 3287.
Foster Wheeler, tel +1 908 730 4000 or email fw@fwc.com.
Group Five, tel +27 10 060 1555, fax +27 86 206 3885 or email groupfiveho@groupfive.co.za.
Heaton Valves Africa, tel +27 11 418 4800 or fax +27 11 826 3687.
Turner & Townsend (Johannesburg), tel +27 11 214 1400 or
fax +27 11 214 1500.
Kentz, tel +27 16 910 9300 or fax +27 16 933 4543.
Aveng Grinaker-LTA, tel +27 11 923 5000.