Local petrochemicals giant turns 65 this year

Petrochemicals giant Sasol celebrated its sixty-fifth anniversary last month, in which time the group has progressed from a pioneer in the production of oil from coal in its South African hometown of Sasolburg, in the Free State, to a global integrated energy and chemicals company, with a presence spanning 37 countries and listings on the JSE and NYSE. Sasol was established on September 26, 1950, and started producing synthetic fuels and chemicals at the first coal-to-liquids (CTL) complex, in Sasolburg, in 1955. In March of that year, the company dispatched its first product – eight drums of creosote – and in August, Sasol achieved its first reaction at its Synthol reactor.