Name of the Project
Sasol and Air Liquide large-scale renewable-energy project.

Location
South Africa. Power will be wheeled over the national grid.

Project Owner/s
Synfuel producer Sasol and industrial gas and services provider Air Liquide.

The companies are acting jointly, following the R8.5-billion acquisition by Air Liquide in July 2020 of Sasol’s air separation units (ASUs) at the Secunda site, in Mpumalanga, which are fully integrated into the chemicals and energy complex.

Project Description
Sasol and Air Liquide formally announced plans in April 2021 to jointly procure 900 MW of renewable-energy capacity from independent power producers (IPPs) by 2031, with an allocation of 500 MW to Sasol and 400 MW to Air Liquide.

In January 2023, Sasol and Air Liquide announced that Enel Green Power would supply 220 MW of wind power to Air Liquide and Sasol. Under two long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), Enel will deliver the clean electricity to Sasol’s Secunda site through wheeling.

In February 2023, Air Liquide and Sasol signed two PPAs with TotalEnergies Renewables South Africa and its partner Mulilo Energy Holdings for the long-term supply of 260 MW of renewable energy to Sasol’s Secunda site. According to the PPAs, TotalEnergies and Mulilo will create one local majority-owned wind project with a capacity of 140 MW (Mulilo De Aar 2 South Wind Farm), and one local majority-owned solar project (Paarde Valley) with a capacity of 120 MW.

Air Liquide and Sasol signed new PPAs with Mainstream Renewable Power in November 2023 for the long-term supply of 97.5 MW of solar power (Damlaagte) to Sasol’s Secunda site.

In addition, in February 2024, Sasol and Air Liquide signed their third PPA with Enel Green Power for the long-term supply of 110 MW of renewable power to Sasol’s Secunda site.

This brings the total PPAs contributing to renewable-energy capacity secured by Sasol and Air Liquide to about 690 MW.  

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Not stated.

Planned Start/End Date
Enel Green Power’s three PPAs with Sasol and Air Liquide comprise one wind project that is scheduled to go on line in 2025 and three that are scheduled to go on line in 2026.

Mainstream Renewable Power’s solar project is expected to go on line in 2025.

The targeted commercial operations date for TotalEnergies and Mulilo’s Paarde Valley and Mulilo De Aar 2 is expected at the end of 2026.

Latest Developments
The 97.5 MW Damlaagte solar PV facility, near Parys, in the Free State, has been officially inaugurated, after having entered into commercial operation in August.

The plant represents the first renewable-energy facility to come online under a joint agreement between Sasol and Air Liquide.

Owned by Mainstream Renewable Power, uBuzwe Energy and the Thembelihle Trust, the Damlaagte PV facility connects directly to the Eskom grid and is expected to generate about 270-million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity yearly. 

During the construction period, which started in November 2023, the project created employment opportunities for nearly 2 000 people, the majority of whom were reportedly recruited from the nearby communities of Tumahole, Schonkenville and Vredefort.

The operation and maintenance of the facility will be undertaken by Plus MAMSA (Mainstream Asset Management SA) and its operation and maintenance partner, Power China Maanda JV.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Enel Green Power and the Perpetua Holdings consortium (wind farms); TotalEnergies and Mulilo (wind and solar projects); and Mainstream Renewable Power (solar project).

Contact Details for Project Information
Sasol head of group media relations Alex Anderson, tel +27 10 344 6509 or email alex.anderson@sasol.com.