Petrochemicals group Sasol’s business unit Sasol Technology reported that it was executing capital projects worth more than R 450-million to support its development activities, as of November 2012.

Sasol’s current combined capital and opera- tional expenditure for Sasol Technology’s research and development (R&D) function is over R1-billion a year, of which over 90% is invested in South Africa.

Last year, Sasol Technology unveiled its new Research and Technology (R&T) facility at the Sasol One Site in Sasolburg.

This project marked another step in Sasol growing its technological lead through R&D technology management and constant innovation, which is at the centre of the company’s strategic growth agenda.

The construction of the R150-million, five-storey building began in January 2010 and houses Sasol’s R&D and fuels technology, which form part of Sasol’s R&T campus. It consists of laboratories, analytical equipment, pilot plants, offices and maintenance workshops. Sasol’s scientists and engineers continuously research and develop new technologies and efficiencies for the business, while improving existing technologies, says Sasol.

“This new R&T facility is a significant milestone for our Sasolburg site, the world’s first coal-to-liquids (CTL) plant. This facility is not only an investment in Sasol’s future but shows Sasol’s continued commitment to South Africa,” says Sasol New Business Development and Technology senior group executive Lean Strauss.

Sasol Technology MD Flip De Wet notes that this is more than a new facility at the Sasol One Site. Sasol is a global leader in gas-to-liquids (GTL) and CTL technology, and processes to produce liquid fuels and chemicals. “This facility will enable the company to be more competitive and further push boundaries when it comes to our ambitious global growth programme,” he says.

The new facility will enhance Sasol’s R&T campus, which houses 14 laboratories, a number of piloting facilities, 150 PhD gradu-ates, close to 100 engineers, over 200 scientists and over 100 chemists and technologists combined.

Sasol’s technology expertise includes coal and gas processing technologies, Fischer-Tropsch catalysis and engineering research, refinery and fuels technologies, chemical technologies, environmental sciences and engineering, and alternative energy and advanced analytical solutions.

The new development marks one of the many investments that Sasol continues to make in its home base, South Africa. Sasol increased its capital expenditure in South Africa by 14% in the 2011/12 financial year to R18.8-billion, which represents about 70% of total capital expenditure.

As part of the company’s ongoing invest-ment in South Africa, Sasol will invest R200-million, in the Metsimaholo municipality and in the Govan Mbeki municipality, in Mpumalanga, to enhance the sustainable development of the communities in both regions, over and above Sasol’s existing social investment.

Education remains a cornerstone of Sasol’s investment in South Africa and its initiatives span the education spectrum, from basic education to postgraduate education.