Broad-based construction and infrastructural company Group Five recently completed three large-scale contracts for Sasol, involving work on the world’s largest air separation unit (ASU), a gas pipe and housing units.

The contract for the petroleum company’s 15th ASU, which required civil works and pipe racks, and began in October 2002, was completed in April 2003.

Managing director for Group Five mining and industrial Peter Keenan said that, due to the size of the plant being constructed, a number of challenges faced his team.

“This was especially true of the section that houses the ASU’s main and booster air compressors, which is the largest compressor of its kind to be installed for such an application.

The second contract forms part of Sasol’s flagship project to develop gas fields in Mozambique, which will bring gas to South Africa. Group Five is participating in contracts at the Temane gas field development, near Vilankoulo, in Mozambique, and at Sasol Chemical Industries, in Sasolburg, in the northern Free State. The $1,2-billion investment is made up of the Pande and Temane gas field development in Mozambique, a pipeline of about 865 km to Secunda in Mpumalanga, the conversion of Sasol’s current gas pipeline network, the supply of natural gas to industries and its conversion of Sasol Chemical Industries, in Sasolburg, to natural gas as feedstock, in place of coal.

At Temane, Group Five – in a joint venture with Mozambique company CMC Construction – completed contracts valued at R95-million for the civil and infrastructural works, as well as the staff accommodation for the main gas processing plant at Temane.

Finally, Group Five is constructing housing units and single quarters at Sasol Synfuels. The housing units include 108 one-bedroom units in single, double and triple-storey blocks. The single accommodation comprises 304 two-bedroom bachelor units in single and double storey blocks.

Most recently, Group Five Civils Mining and Industrial, in a joint venture with Group Five Housing, has started work on an R8-million contract for a double storey administration block at the Sasol polymer plant in Sasolburg. The consulting engineers are French company Technip.