New Sasol O&S Tri-ethyl Aluminium Production Plant Proves Concept

HAMBURG, Germany, July 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Sasol Olefins&Surfactants (O&S) announced today that it has reached an important milestone in the expansion of its capabilities with the production of its new ALCAT®TEAL highly purified tri-ethyl aluminium product.

Production at the new TEAL plant in Brunsbüttel, Germany, which went on-line in June 2012, has been running smoothly for nearly a year. The full functionality of the supply chain has been proven with successful product supplies to such customers as Sasol Polymers in South Africa. Importantly, Sasol O&S has now obtained further approvals for the use of ALCAT®TEAL in applications such as the Novolen process, a leading polypropylene gas-phase technology.

The new facility in Brunsbüttel, Germany, has an initial annual TEAL production capacity of 6,000 tonnes. Thanks to Sasol O&S' more than 50-year experience in dealing with aluminium alkyls, adherence to the highest safety standards was guaranteed from the start. By applying its unique know-how to the complete logistics chain from production to global customer deliveries, Sasol O&S has provided for seamless container rotation.

"With the existing local infrastructure and expertise, particularly in handling special chemicals, our Brunsbüttel plant is in an ideal position to produce TEAL reliably and in high quality and quantities, offering our global customers maximum product and supply security. With our latest approvals for the application of ALCAT®TEAL and our proven logistics chain we are ready to serve this growing global market for years to come," Eric Stouder, General Manager Organics at Sasol O&S said.

ALCAT®TEAL is used as a co-catalyst in the production of polyethylene and polypropylene, and also as a reactive intermediate in the manufacturing of linear alpha olefins (LAO).

Note to editor:

Pictures of ALCAT@TEAL loading process available upon request

About Sasol:

Committed to excellence in all we do, Sasol is an international integrated energy and chemical company that leverages the talent and expertise of our more than 34 000 people working in 38 countries. We develop and commercialise technologies, and build and operate world-scale facilities, to produce a range of product streams, including liquid fuels, chemicals and electricity.

While continuing to support our home-base of South Africa, Sasol is expanding internationally based on a unique value proposition, which links our diverse businesses into an integrated value chain supported by top-class functions.

About Sasol O&S

Sasol Olefins & Surfactants (O&S) belongs to Sasol Limited, an integrated energy and chemical company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The international chemical company manufactures and markets a broad range of organic and inorganic products, such as C6-C22 alcohols, linear alkyl benzene, surfactants and oleochemicals, as well as inorganic specialty chemicals such as aluminas (hydroxides and oxides), silica-aluminas and hydrotalcites. The products are used in detergents, cleaners, oil and gas recovery, paint and coatings, leather and metal processing, personal care products, lubricants as well as in catalysts, high performance abrasives and polymer additives. Sasol O&S has a large global footprint with its presence in 14 countries around the world. The company employs about 3,000 people and runs 10 production sites in six countries, namely Germany, Italy, Slovakia, USA, South Africa and China, and participates in a joint-venture with Wilmar China Investment (Yihai) in China.

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Jacqui O'Sullivan, GM: Group Communication
Direct telephone +27-(11)-441-3252; Mobile +27-(0)82-883-9697;
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For Sasol O&S:

For media queries:
Claudia Wagner, Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Sasol O&S
Direct telephone +49-(0)40-63684-1408
[email protected]

For customer queries:
Dirk Schär, Manager Sales and Marketing Metal Alkyls
Direct telephone +49-(0)4852-392-410
[email protected]

SOURCE Sasol