Sasol Reactors En Route From Japan to Qatar

01-Apr-05

With the shipment of two reactors from Japan, South African petrochem major Sasol is well on its way towards completion of a gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar. This US$1bn project, Sasol's first gas-to-liquids project outside SA, marks Sasol's first step to expansion of technology globally. Oryx, one of the four Sasol plants being built outside SA, is a joint venture between Sasol and state-owned Qatar Petroleum, and will produce 34000 bpd. Oryx is 80% complete, and should commence production of diesel and naphtha early next year. The group may be awarded a contract to build a plant in Nigeria in the next few months, and is in early-stage discussions about two coal-to-liquid plants in China. Sasol's gas-to-liquids technology is seen as a key driver of its growth. The group is seen as having the potential to grow to ten times its current size in the next 20 years if it can maintain control of its technology.