Photo by: Bloomberg
JSE-listed petrochemicals giant Sasol has developed a new unique blend of alcohol-based chemicals to be used in the manufacture of hand sanitisers to help address the increase in market demand for these products.
“While global demand and pricing for ethanol and isopropanol alcohol has increased due to higher demand amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Sasol has prioritised local supply and prices for South African sales have remained stable,” says Sasol president and CEO Fleetwood Grobler.
He adds that the outbreak of the coronavirus has caused a run on hand sanitisers, which has, in turn, created excessive demand for alcohols required to produce hand sanitisers and disinfectants.
Sasol is a producer and bulk supplier of high-purity ethanol, isopropanol and n-propanol alcohols, which are solvent chemicals used in the production of sanitisers.
“Over the past few weeks, Sasol has experienced an increase in demand of nearly 400% for alcohol-based products.
"In recent weeks, we have delivered close to eight-million litres to the South African market and our laboratories, production, marketing and supply chain teams are working around the clock to ensure a reliable supply of critical alcohol-based products to customers,” Grobler explains.
To help address the increasing demand for sanitiser alcohols in South Africa, the company has come up with a special blend of alcohols, which will be sold to existing and new Sasol customers to expedite the production and availability of these critical products locally to help safeguard the health and wellbeing of South Africans.
Sasol is collaborating with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and is also prioritising supply to government entities and other essential services to jointly combat the spread of the virus in South Africa.