Sasol reaches beneficial operation of new alkoxylation production facility in China

23rd April 2019 By: Tasneem Bulbulia - Senior Contributing Editor Online

Dual-listed integrated chemicals and energy company Sasol reached beneficial operation of its new alkoxylation plant in Nanjing, in China’s Jiangsu province, on April 18.

“Sasol has successfully built the new facility by implementing state-of-the-art technology for alkoxylation plants,” Sasol executive VP Bernard Klingenberg said in a statement published on Tuesday.

“The construction was completed within the expected timeframe and approved budget, without a recordable injury.”

The construction of the new alkoxylation plant began in the summer of 2017 and is Sasol’s largest expansion project in the region.

The facility has a 150 000 t/y capacity, with the option of using either branched or linear alcohols to meet differentiated customer requirements in applications such as detergents, textiles, metal working and lubrication and other speciality end-markets.

As part of the scope, Sasol has also expanded its research and development (R&D) and technical support capabilities within the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park.

“We are extremely proud of what our Sasol China colleagues have achieved,” said Sasol Chemicals Business executive VP Fleetwood Grobler.

He indicated that the Chinese market was expected to account for 40% of global chemical demand by 2020, stating that Sasol was seeing a rapid increase in innovation and differentiation requirements.

“This new facility will allow us to meet both the growth, as well as the increasingly sophisticated quality requirements of a truly exciting market,” added Grobler.

“Sasol has a reputation in China as a reliable supplier with high standards and a strengthened R&D group will allow us to improve our customer-specific solution delivery. This facility will support our growth in Asia and allow us to better serve our current and future customers.”