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Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals News

NGOs call on global investor climate initiative to intervene in Sasol shareholder issue

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th November 2020 Nongovernmental organisation Just Share, supported by shareholder activist organisations ShareAction (UK), Majority Action (USA), Follow This (Netherlands) and the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), has written to Climate Action 100+ (CA100+) − the world’s largest investor... →

Bearing isolators faring well in bearings sector

6th November 2020 Bearings distributor BMG tells Engineering News that its Garlock Klozure and Guardian Bearing Isolators have fared notably well subsequent to being introduction to the BMG range of isolators. A bearing isolator is an advanced sealing solution that is used to protect bearings on rotating equipment... →

SURE SOLUTION The Garlock sealing solutions offered by BMG have proven effective in many environments

Wits develops solution to improve accuracy, safety of Covid-19 testing

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd November 2020 Containing Covid-19 requires testing of individual and isolating those who test positive, together with recent contacts, to prevent further spread and it is therefore critical to ensure that testing is independently verified to assure its accuracy. Given the urgent need to ramp up testing, a team... →

Professor Bavesh Kana

Difficulties heightened during pandemic, company forges ahead

By: Mamaili Mamaila 30th October 2020 South Africa’s subdued economic growth has been well recorded – even prior to the pandemic, says industrial equipment supplier Verder Pumps South Africa MD Darryl Macdougall. →

CHECK THIS OUT Verder Pumps South Africa also launched the new Verder HI-Clean AODD and EODD pumps earlier this month, with more announcements planned heading into 2021

Sasol to test market for Southern African carbon-offset prospects

By: Terence Creamer 29th October 2020 Chemicals and energy group Sasol has indicated that it intends issuing a request for information (RFI) for the development and implementation of carbon-offset projects in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and has called on potential participants to register their... →

PPE supply to healthcare sector hard hit by Covid

23rd October 2020 An infographic on the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the healthcare sector, in which the effects imputable to the Covid-19 pandemic were highlighted, has been published by market research company Frost & Sullivan. The infographic named ‘Impact of Covid-19 on demand for PPE in... →

PROTECTION ORDER The increased demand for personal protective equipment in the medical sector has brought about notable short- and long-term changes in the value chain

PPE standards drop during pandemic

By: Halima Frost 23rd October 2020 The pandemic has brought about a conflict in standards whereby local and imported respirators align with requirements listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), however, these requirements do not align with the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), says industry body South African... →

HIGH STANDARDS Sapema insists that role-players in the PPE sector adhere to SABS and WHO standards

Hybrid future in sight

23rd October 2020 Global engineering company Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) predicts a hybrid bioprocessing future, where tried and trusted stainless-steel systems are seamlessly integrated with single-use technology. This flexible approach will enable contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs) and... →

TECHNOLOGY SHAKE UP Stainless steel is not dead nor dying, but the emergence of new technology continues to shake up the biopharmaceutical industry

Hard hat face shield launched

23rd October 2020 Paper and plastics packaging and recycling company Mpact Group launched its new face shield, specially designed to attach to a hard hat, in support of the construction and related industries during the Covid-19 pandemic. Launched in June, the hard hat face shield is produced from polyethylene... →

HEALTHY HANDOVER To help curb the spread of Covid-19 and keep frontline healthcare workers safe, Mpact Group donated 25 000 face shields to the Department of Health

Gloves on offer locally

By: Halima Frost 23rd October 2020 Wholesale personal protective equipment (PPE) and industrial consumables supplier G.Fox has added the patented nitrile Grippaz gloves to its PPE portfolio in the second quarter of this year. The specially formulated gloves combine household gloves and disposable exam glove technology, which makes... →

GAINLY GRIP The Grippaz glove offers better 'grip-ability' as well as more comfort for the user

Unilever ring-fences €1bn for Clean Future initiative

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd October 2020 Consumer goods company Unilever has launched its Clean Future initiative, which is aimed at engendering sustainability in the way it produces products and renders services. During a virtual launch of the initiatives on October 22, the company explained that it was seeking to transform its... →

Afreximbank ready to raise up to $5bn for Covid-19 vaccines for Africa - CDC head

By: Reuters 22nd October 2020 The African Export Import Bank is ready to raise up to $5-billion to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for African countries, the head of the continent’s disease control body told Reuters on Thursday. John Nkengasong, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said Africa needs... →

SABS calls for stricter self-regulation around hazardous waste disposal

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th October 2020 Since the global outbreak of Covid-19, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has been refocusing its attention on improving its services to assist in the fight against the pandemic and the hygiene matters related to controlling the spread of infection. To this end, the SABS says the... →

Omnia intends to sell Oro Agri business

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th October 2020 JSE-listed chemicals group Omnia Holdings has reached an agreement to sell its Oro Agri business to Rovensa – a European-based business that procures and distributes biocontrol, bionutrition and crop protection solutions. Omnia in June received a nonbinding offer for the business, which... →

Omnia CEO Seelan Gobalsamy

Academia, industry must be involved for railway concessions to be successful, says NMU associate

By: Simone Liedtke 14th October 2020 The ensure the success of railway concessions, Nelson Mandela University Infrastructure Development and Engagement Unit (ID&EU) associate Bongani Mankewu says government “must fathom the significant role to be played by academia and the industry”. He explains that the inception of concessioning... →

Sasol tax break, subsidy support boosts pollution, group says

By: Bloomberg 13th October 2020 Sasol got a R8.1-billion profit boost last year thanks to the country’s fuel subsidies and its exemption from a South African carbon tax, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development. In a report, the institute says that Sasol’s proprietary coal-to-fuel technology is a... →

The Secunda coal-to-liquids plant in Mpumalanga.

South African receives $150 000 Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Grant

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 8th October 2020 Selected from a record entry of 217 applications from 26 different countries in Africa, Dr Bernard Coetzee, from the University of the Witwatersrand’s Global Change Institute, has been announced as the winner of the second yearly $150 000 Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Grant, at an event hosted by... →

Dr Bernard WT Coetzee (standing centre), has been announced as the winner of the second, yearly $150 000 Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Grant, at an event hosted by Oppenheimer Generations at Circa Gallery, Rosebank, Johannesburg. With him from (L-R) Jonathan Oppenheimer, Executive Chairperson of Oppenheimer Generations, Bridget Fury, Head, Oppenheimer Generations Philanthropies and Chair of the JWO grant expert panel, Nicky Oppenheimer, Chairman of Oppenheimer Generations and Dr Duncan MacFadyen, Head of Research and Conservation at Oppenheimer Generations.

Sasol sells 50% of Lake Charles base chemicals unit to LyondellBasell for $2bn

By: Terence Creamer 2nd October 2020 Debt-laden chemicals and energy group Sasol has announced a $2-billion joint venture (JV) agreement with LyondellBasell for its base chemicals business in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the US. Under the agreement, LyondellBasell will acquire 50% of Sasol’s 1.5-million-ton ethane cracker, as well as... →

Lake Charles Chemicals Complex

Financial response plan implemented

2nd October 2020 In the face of the oil price collapse and unprecedented challenges, chemicals and energy group Sasol took immediate steps to implement a comprehensive response plan to stabilise the business in the short term and raise cash of at least $6-billion by the end of financial year 2021 to repay debt,... →

QUICK RESPONDERS Sasol took immediate steps to implement a comprehensive response plan to stabilise the business in the short term

Cleanup under way at Sasol's Lake Charles following hurricane

By: Simone Liedtke 22nd September 2020 Petrochemicals company Sasol has completed damage assessments of its Lake Charles Chemical Complex’s 14 manufacturing facilities, associated utilities and infrastructure following the landfall of Hurricane Laura on August 27. Hurricane Laura is considered to be one of the strongest hurricanes on... →

Butler retires as Omnia director

By: Donna Slater 21st September 2020 Frank Butler will retire as director of chemicals company Omnia at the company’s annual general meeting on September 23. He has served on the board since September 2002 and is chairperson of the board's social, ethics and risk committee. →

Sasol to become first raw material supplier signatory of Operation Clean Sweep

By: Donna Slater 15th September 2020 Energy and chemicals group Sasol has become the first South African raw material supplier to the plastics industry to become a signatory of Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) – an international stewardship programme designed to prevent resin pellet, flake and powder loss and help keep this material out... →

Omnia's mining division celebrates record-breaking achievements

By: Simone Liedtke 14th September 2020 Diversified chemicals group Omnia Holdings is celebrating several record-breaking achievements across Protea Mining Chemicals and BME, which together form the group’s mining division. Protea Mining Chemicals became the first in its field, globally, to develop a solution that helps copper and... →

Aspen achieves strong cash flow despite tough conditions

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th September 2020 JSE-listed Aspen Pharmacare increased its revenue by 9% to R38.6-billion for the financial year ended June 30, while normalised earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation increased by 7% to R11-billion for the period. The higher revenue was supported by growth from Commercial... →

Aspen concludes sales agreement for thrombosis business

By: Donna Slater 8th September 2020 Pharmaceuticals manufacturer Aspen’s wholly-owned Mauritius-incorporated subsidiary Aspen Global Incorporated (AGI) has concluded an agreement in terms of which Mylan Ireland will acquire the commercialisation rights and related intellectual property of Aspen’s Thrombosis business in Europe for... →

Sasol seeks carbon-utilisation solutions for South African operations

By: Terence Creamer 4th September 2020 Energy and chemicals group Sasol has initiated a process through which it aims to identify potential partners for the development and demonstration of technologies that can utilise the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced at its South African operations as part of a broader strategy to lower its... →

Long-term demand structure for petroleum unclear

By: Darren Parker 4th September 2020 It is expected that the Covid-19 pandemic will continue to negatively affect liquid fuels demand in the short term, but whether this represents a long-term structural shift is not yet clear, says South African Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia) executive director Avhapfani Tshifularo. Before... →

NO NEED TO IMPORT
Reduced demand will see South Africa becoming somewhat self-sufficient in terms of fuels production if all refineries are operational

Photo by Adobe
NO NEED TO IMPORT Reduced demand will see South Africa becoming somewhat self-sufficient in terms of fuels production if all refineries are operational

Heavy equipment demobilised after project completion

4th September 2020 Heavy equipment lifting and transporting company Mammoet recently began demobilising equipment it had deployed at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical complex in Lekki Free Zone, in Nigeria. The demobilising of the equipment began in July. →

BIG DELIVERIES The components for the refinery project consisted of multiple shipments delivered to the purpose-built Dangote Quay Lekki in Lagos

New proportioning system ideal for refineries

By: Darren Parker 4th September 2020 Fire-suppression systems developer FireDos launched the third generation (Gen III) of its foam proportioners for fire extinguishing systems globally at the end of last year. The technology has since been made available in South Africa through local partner and distributor DoseTech. The Gen III... →

A NEW GENERATION The Gen III foam proportioner can handle all types of foam agents, even highly viscous, alcohol-resistant and fluorine-free foam agents

Environment-friendly catalysts reduce emissions

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 28th August 2020 High-performance catalyst manufacturer Clariant Catalysts has developed the EnviCat N2O catalyst, to remove nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) gases almost entirely from the waste gases emitted by industrial plants. →

DR JONATHAN CHETTY N2O is a climate-changing gas, with an average life span of 114 years in the earth’s atmosphere

Sasol shuts troubled Lake Charles plant as hurricane approaches

By: Bloomberg 27th August 2020 Sasol, the fuel and chemicals maker, will shut its $13-billion Lake Charles Chemicals Project due to Hurricane Laura making landfall on the US Gulf Coast. “Given Hurricane Laura’s forecast path,” Sasol will temporarily close down its facilities at Lake Charles, Louisiana, as well as Greens Bayou... →

Adcock Ingram reports satisfying results despite headwinds

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th August 2020 Pharmaceutical manufacturer the Adcock Ingram Group posted headline earnings from continuing operations of R709.4-million for the financial year ended June 30. This was an increase on the headline earnings of R701-million posted for the 2019 financial year. →

Solidarity Fund delivers first batch of ventilators to hospitals

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 25th August 2020 The Solidarity Fund reports that the first batch of ventilators, initially earmarked for delivery at the end of August, have been delivered ahead of schedule. In early July, the fund approved the additional funding of R405-million to go towards the purchase of critical healthcare equipment for... →

Sibanye, Wits collaborate to make face shields

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 21st August 2020 JSE-listed Sibanye-Stillwater and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) have collaborated to produce face shields for frontline healthcare workers in communities around the miner's South African operations and in the Eastern Cape province. The face shields are being made by students and... →

Packaging organisation urges responsible ammonium nitrate warehousing

By: Marleny Arnoldi 21st August 2020 After a cache of ammonium nitrate exploded earlier in August and left great devastation in Beruit, Lebanon, the Responsible Packaging Management Association of Southern Africa has stressed the importance of correct due procedure when handling ammonium nitrate. The association warns that what... →

DBSA hands over 110 isolation pods as part of Covid-19 response

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 20th August 2020 Development finance institution, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), has donated 110 isolation pods to the Eastern Cape Department of Health as part of its Covid-19 humanitarian response. The isolation pods are manufactured in South Africa, to the standards aligned to the clinical... →

Sasol’s new-look strategy will seek to ‘reset’ group for low-carbon world

By: Terence Creamer 17th August 2020 Embattled chemicals and energy group Sasol aims to officially unveil its new-look strategy, dubbed Future Sasol, later this year. It has already indicated, however, that the plan will seek to reposition the 70-year-old company, built around a highly carbon-intensive technology that converts coal... →

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