When Sasol One in Sasolburg faced a critical plant shutdown, maintaining uninterrupted steam supply was essential to keep production running. Energy Partners’ Steam division rose to the challenge.

Industrial complexes, like Sasol One in Sasolburg, schedule comprehensive shutdowns every three to five years, to perform essential maintenance and plant upgrades. However, these shutdowns run the risk of interrupting critical utilities such as steam, potentially resulting in substantial production losses.

To avoid such a disruption, Sasol entrusted energy solutions company Energy Partners to install boilers and generate steam at three different, isolated locations within the plant, ensuring that operations could continue unaffected during the shutdown.

Energy Partners’ Steam division installed three boilers, each fully equipped with independent power supply, water treatment systems, feedwater tanks, boiler fuel tanks and interconnecting pipework. The boilers required dedicated operators to maintain steam supply to the plant 24/7 over a one-month period.

The Energy Partners team had only three months to design, install and commission all three boiler installations. Each boiler had to be self-sufficient, tailored to meet the unique requirements of specific plant areas, demanding meticulous planning and flawless execution.

Robust planning, continuous monitoring

Drawing on the knowledge gained from a similar project previously completed for Sasol, Energy Partners identified areas for optimisation and improvement. They conducted intensive planning sessions to ensure the efficient allocation of resources to ensure adherence to the tight timeline.

Regular progress assessments and rigorous quality checks were implemented to track milestones and ensure all project specifications were met without compromise.

Despite the formidable challenges, the project was executed with resounding success. Energy Partners delivered three fully operational boiler installations precisely on schedule and within the allocated budget, ensuring Sasol’s production remained unaffected during the shutdown.

By leveraging past experiences, implementing robust planning and fostering collaborative teamwork, Energy Partners’ Steam division not only safeguarded Sasol’s operations, but also set a benchmark for effective project management under demanding circumstances.

This achievement highlights the critical role of strategic planning and expert execution in delivering uninterrupted production in even the most challenging industrial environments.

Boost operational efficiency and reliability with Energy Partners’ tailored steam solutions.  Contact us to find out how we can support your operational goals:

Jaco Liebenberg at (011) 864 2984 or email JacoL@energypartners.co.za