Sasolburg and Ekandustria Operations (SEO)
Sasolburg and Ekandustria Operations (SEO), collectively referred to as Sasolburg Operations, represents one of five Operating Hubs within Sasol South Africa Limited's Southern African Operations. Established as Sasol's founding facility in 1950, SEO encompasses an integrated chemicals manufacturing complex spanning approximately 51.4 km² across three geographically separate but operationally integrated sites: Sasol One Site, Sasol Midland Site, and Sasol Bunsen Site.
The operations transitioned from coal-based feedstock to natural gas imported from Mozambique in 2004, positioning SEO as a high-value chemicals production hub utilizing proprietary Fischer-Tropsch, chlor-alkali, and specialty chemicals technologies. SEO provides centralized utilities including steam, electricity, reformed gas, and synthesis gas to support all business units across the Sasolburg complex, ensuring operational integration and efficiency.
The facility employs state-of-the-art technologies to manufacture a diverse portfolio of base chemicals, performance chemicals, polymers, waxes, fertilizers, and mining chemicals serving domestic and international markets.
SASOL MIDLAND SITE Overview
Sasol Midland Site (also referred to as Midlands Site) is a diversified chemicals manufacturing complex established in 1964, specializing in chlor-alkali, polymers, alcohols, and specialty chemicals production. Originally formed as a joint venture (Polifin) with AECI in 1994, Sasol acquired full ownership in 1999, integrating the operations into Sasolburg's chemical value chain. The site is part of the 51.4 km² Sasolburg Operations complex.
Primary Activities and Products
- Chlor-Alkali: the chlor-alkali process employs membrane cell electrolysis.
- Polyethylene (PE): the site produces Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE).
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): PVC resins are manufactured via the suspension polymerization process.
- Butanol complex:
- The butanol complex was commissioned following environmental authorization in 2001 (operational post-2010)
- Technology is hydroformylation of propylene with syngas (Oxo synthesis process)
- Feedstock: 95% w/w propylene from Secunda, 99.9% w/w hydrogen from Hydrogen Purification Plant (PSA), Syngas from Rectisol Plant (Sasolburg)
- Products: n-Butanol and iso-Butanol
- Acrylic Acids and Derivatives:
- Acrylic acid is produced via propylene oxidation
- Products: Acrylic acid, acrylates (methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate)
- Hydrochloric Acid (HCl): HCl is a b-product from PVC production (VCM synthesis) and chlorination processes, integrated with chlor-alkali and PVC operations
- Cyanide Production: Sodium cyanide is produced for the mining industry (gold extraction
