Latest news with #Sasol
Business Wire
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Sasol Commits to Next Generation Catalyst Supply for e-SAF Pioneer INERATEC
HAMBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sasol Chemicals, a business of Sasol Ltd. (JSE: SOL: NYSE: SSL), and German startup INERATEC have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) committing to the supply of Sasol's next generation catalyst as soon as the development cycle is completed in 2026. The introduction of the next generation catalyst will allow the facility to exceed the current capacity and improve the e-kerosene yield by 15%. Share INERATEC operates the largest Power-to-Liquid (PtL) facility worldwide – called ERA ONE – for the production of e-Waxes and e-Fuels. The facility's annual production target of up to 2,500 tons of sustainable e-Fuels is enabled by Sasol's current state-of-the-art Cobalt FT catalyst. The introduction of the next generation catalyst will allow the facility to exceed the current capacity and improve the e-kerosene yield by 15%. 'To date, the necessary feedstocks for e-SAF, such as green hydrogen, are quite scarce,' explains Dirk Uys, VP Sales South African Chemicals. 'That's why improving yields is the most important lever we have at the moment to make large-scale commercialization feasible.' From the earliest tests to the recent plant opening, Sasol Chemicals has provided INERATEC with its benchmark catalysts based on the company's proprietary Fischer-Tropsch know-how. The LoI marks another milestone in the two companies' on-going collaboration, that also extends to the German-South African CARE-O-SENE research project, where both are consortium partners. The large-scale commercialization of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) is a cornerstone in de-fossilizing air transportation, with commitments from industry, politics and the scientific community to speed up development and commercialization. 'This is a fast-developing field. The start-up of ERA ONE early June 2025 is an important signal from INERATEC and we aim to stay a key player in the growing e-SAF market,' comments Tim Böltken, Founder and Managing Director INERATEC. 'Having an experienced partner like Sasol Chemicals is a hugely important aspect for our ambitions.' The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, on which Sasol's benchmark catalysts are based, was discovered and patented in 1925 by German chemical scientists Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch. Since the 1950s, Sasol has developed the process as proprietary technology, making the company the world leader in this field. Proven over the last 30 years, Sasol's Cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalysts are currently the most reliable and effective of their kind. About Sasol Sasol is a global energy and chemicals company. We harness our knowledge and expertise to integrate sophisticated technologies and processes into world-scale operating facilities. We strive to safely and sustainably source, produce and market a range of high-quality products globally, creating value for our stakeholders.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Sasol Westville packs Nelson Mandela Day hampers
THE Sasol Westville office celebrated International Mandela Day on Thursday, July 17, by packing and distributing nutritious hampers to vulnerable groups, particularly those affected by the withdrawal of international NGO funding. Sasol employees and those from the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref), as well as from the eThekwini Department of Social Development (DSD), which partnered with the chemicals and energy company for the initiative, spent 67 minutes preparing the hampers which were distributed to two KwaMashu-based NGOs, including the elderly home KwaMashu Christian Care Society. The acting head of department at DSD, Maphili Mhlongo, said the department supports and appreciates the initiative, which is a result of contributions made by Sasol employees. 'We really appreciate this partnership as the department of Social Development, which works with the vulnerable members of our communities. This gesture will mean a lot to people who will sleep with smiles on their faces,' said Mhlongo. Also read: Westville cops caution elderly about fraud on Nelson Mandela Day The partnership between DSD and Sasol started in 2024. DSD Chief Director of the eThekwini cluster, Fezile Luthuli, said the hampers were not only about their contents but also about how they make the recipients feel. 'We really appreciate and support this initiative and we are really looking forward to this partnership which we wish to see grow where we can easily call for emergency help for the communities we work with,' said Luthuli, who also applauded the two Sasol Westville employees who have contributed towards Nelson Mandela Day initiatives for the past 10 years. The two Sasol employees have been donating from their pockets towards Nelson Mandela Day initiatives for the past 10 years. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
A journey through Balfour and Val: Uncovering South Africa's hidden treasures
An abandoned building on the way to Balfour, Mpumalanga, having taken the R59 off the N3. Image: Russel Harris Anyone who's travelled knows that heading into unfamiliar territory can throw some surprises your way. Choosing to visit Balfour and Val in Mpumalanga, South Africa, felt like stepping into the unknown, hoping for a mix of adventure, quiet moments, and great photos to add to our collection. But the trip didn't go as planned. We didn't see anything of importance at all and may as well not have bothered since we almost got beaten up trying to take some street photos in Balfour. The trip started easily enough – the usual gang of the two of us and doggo – heading down the Durban freeway from Johannesburg. Traffic, for a Saturday mid-morning jaunt, seemed a little heavier than it should have been due to the volume of trucks carting coal to some-or-other port. To get to Balfour, you take the Standerton offramp, and head down a single-lane road past endless fields of nothing. The only thing of interest was a ramshackle, graffiti-covered, house opposite a dilapidated truck stop. We stopped to capture images of this abandoned structure and collected blackjacks for our trouble. The images we shot were fantastic, as the light was shining in through the windows, doorways, and where the roof used to be, which added an eerie tint to the pictures. The blackjacks – that curse of the South African veld – took about half-an-hour for the three of us to pick off. At least the two humans wore jeans. Ginger was wearing a jersey, and that took up most of the time. There was about another half-an-hour to go before the voice on the phone said: 'You have reached your destination,' in that annoying tone. Balfour got its name after the then British Prime Minister, Arthur Balfour, gave a speech on the train station platform in 1905. Before that, it was named after its founder, Frederick McHattie, as McHattiesburg. The town is described as a gorgeous getaway destination, in the heart of what is called 'Cosmos country' – the south-western part of Mpumalanga. Apparently, this region promised vibrant wildflowers during autumn. Well, it didn't exactly live up to that name and was neither the sort of place to write home from, nor buy a magnet for your fridge as memorabilia. Well, it was certainly memorable. For all the wrong reasons. Cruising in past a large industrial area with several maize silos, we headed into the CBD. If you could call a few shops such as a Spar, a butchery, a Sasol petrol station, and strip malls along the main road selling blankets, and cellphone accessories a town centre. Some photos are not worth getting beaten up for, like this one taken in Balfour, Mpumalanga. Image: Russel Harris Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The roads were riddled with potholes, and some had deteriorated to a mixture of sand and tarmac. The dust in the air mixed perfectly with the smoke pouring out of the cooking fires at every other pavement store, spaza shop and Sizabantu's muti dispensary. A far cry from the cute town centre we envisioned. Despite the initial disappointment, we were still determined to make the most of it. Lunch was first on the agenda, and we went around in circles, over the same railway bridge twice taking photos along the way. Russel was the first to experience the ire of the locals when he took a snapshot of the landscape bisected by the railway line which also included a handful of workers trudging through the veldt half-a-kilometre away who began to shout 'No' as he raised his camera to his eye. He took the shot anyway. Finding what seemed to be the local hangout for farmers and the few whites, given the colour bar that still exists, who lived in Balfour, Graspaleis Pub & Grill, we could choose any tables we wanted, because there was simply no-one else there apart from the bartender. The table by the fireplace it was, and we all enjoyed (including Ginger, who was allowed off-leash as it was empty) some burgers. Doggo has since developed a chronic illness that means she can't share lunch with anyone anymore. After lunch, we headed back into the small coalmining and maize-farming town to get some street photos, leaving our four-legged companion in the car, thankfully. We parked on the edge of town, by the strip mall where the streets were covered with rubbish. Nicola had her pro DSLR, and a camera bag strapped on tight, while Russel carried his modest analogue-styled mirrorless compact camera. Perfect street photography gear, and initially, we were snapping away quite happily. None of the locals seemed to mind as we made our way down the main drag. Until we ended up being threatened by four youths whose actual source of income - and citizenship - may very well have been illegal. After being told that trying to take photos in a public place was illegal, Nicola stupidly argued that, in South Africa, anyone can take a photograph that includes another person, without permission provided it is in a public space and doesn't identify them. After we almost got beaten up for daring to explain the law we hit the road. The state of Balfour's town centre is, sadly, much like other bigger cities like Roodepoort and Florida in Johannesburg's West Rand. The rest of Balfour seemed to comprise old, and somewhat dilapidated houses in some parts, and as the number of churches and bottle stores were typical of small towns. It did seem odd that there were guest houses along the roads. Why anyone would choose to stay in Balfour was unfathomable, and we didn't see any of what the internet promised. Nicola Mawson shoots the railway track in Val with her assistant, Ginger (who was made that thin) Image: Russel Harris Next up was Val because we didn't want to waste the day. A mere 45km away from Balfour, the road to Val bypasses Greylingstad – fill up there if you need fuel because there is next to nothing in Val, which is home to a mere 12 people. Literally next to nothing: an Anglican church, a hotel, restaurant, a sort-of curio shop and (for some reason) a police station. What there is, however, is peace and calm, and a large amount of history for those who want to have a walk around. Perhaps don't take a walk down the train tracks – they're still in use by the maize production industry. The restaurant – more of a family-styled pub – was laid out on a lavish piece of lawn opposite St Francis Anglican church and is a great place to just relax. And let Ginger off the leash. The food was top-notch pub fare. First, we went past the police station and explained to the bemused officer that we wanted to see the cell in which Ghandi had apparently been imprisoned. After a bit of a history lesson that involved us explaining the police station's heritage, we were allowed inside a cell which may or not served as a temporary home to the pioneer of non-violent resistance. Ghandi is not the only historical detail to be found. Val – founded in 1986 – was the site of many Anglo-Boer War fights, with perhaps the most memorable tale being that of the Whiskey Train incident. Boer soldiers ambushed and blew up a train car – Val is on what was the main railway line between Johannesburg and Durban – carrying whisky, and Christmas cake. Having done so, they then shared their spoils. Scattered around the area are memorials to the dead. There are some strange things to see in South Africa's hinterlands. Image: Nicola Mawson If you want more of an in-depth historical experience chat with Rita Britz, who is the single most knowledgeable person about the dorpie she fiercely protects, and owns the pub. There's about 20km or so of a road that runs past more maize farms on the way in, and out, of Val. As usual, in rural areas, it is generally a patchwork of potholes. This trip, however, it seemed as if a government department had started fixing it – scraping the tar right off on one side – and then gone on holiday. It was like dodgems, except with potholes, bags of asphalt, and having to drive on the sandy verge. Highly recommended for adrenaline junkies. That sense of no longer dealing with our day-to-day humdrum existence flourishes on these roads. There is a feeling of escaping life. Although our impression was that these oft-forgotten places are no longer sanctuaries, the small-town spirit is still there. Maybe that's why we insist on taking these day trips. The allure of Africa. Maybe there are better places to be when it comes to street photography. However, we enjoyed the moment, traveling along, the three of us looking out at the same landscape. All of us sensing deep down that where we were is where we wanted to be. IOL
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Sasol in Sasolburg celebrates International Mandela Day
SASOLBURG – Honouring the legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Sasol mobilised employees around the world on Thursday, July 17, to give their time, talents and resources to personally contribute to International Mandela Day through the company's internal social impact programme, Sasol for Good. In Sasolburg more than 200 volunteers from Sasol's Sasolburg and Natref Operations as well as Mining participated in the drive themed 'Bridging the Gap, Nourishing Communities' and packed 1 028 boxes, each filled with red speckled beans, split peas, tinned fish, soya mince, maize meal, samp, rice, tea, tea creamer, soup powder, vitadrink, immunomeal, brown sugar and cooking oil. The packed boxes were distributed to more than 25 NPOs that serve people living with disabilities, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) as well as shelters operating in Metsimaholo and Ngwathe local municipalities. Sasol's Regional Operations and Assets Services also handed over food, clothing and items donated by employees to the Youth Care Centres for boys and girls in Sasolburg. This year marks 10 years of Sasol for Good. To date, over 170 organisations have benefited from the generosity of Sasol employees, who have collectively donated more than R7 million over the past decade. Sasol has matched these contributions with an additional R6 million, resulting in a total of R13 million directed to non-profit organisations over the past 10 years. To harness the growing momentum of community centred goodwill, Sasol introduced five days or 40 hours of paid employee volunteer leave in 2016 – designed to capitalise on this spirit of doing good. The Sasol for Good initiative continues to empower employees to contribute their time, skills and in-kind support to causes aligned with their personal values. While Sasol evolved over the past decade, the company's commitment to philanthropy endures, particularly through initiatives such as annual International Nelson Mandela Day. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Wafcon offers spectacular songs and goals – but where is the next generation?
From deep inside the Stade d'Honneur came a beautiful sound as 26 voices united in song. The loudspeaker quietened in respect. The few dozen people at the ground braved the summer swelter to crowd near the players' tunnels. Ghanaian players walked out in no noticeable combination with slightly puzzled looks on their faces. The noise grew louder and more distinctive as one voice called and the others responded. There was definitely the beating of a drum. Then, they emerged. Defending champions South Africa announced their arrival at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) with nothing but notes of pure joy. For about 90 seconds, they kept the tune going. Even before they had kicked a ball, Banyana Banyana had offered something special. This is a team who, as coach Desiree Ellis put it, 'through all the challenges, consistently rise to the occasion,' and the challenges are plenty. Despite winning the last Wafcon, the Glasgow City winger Linda Motlhalo told Moving the Goalposts that, 'not a lot has changed, especially in terms of investing in women's football'. The South African domestic league is still not professional, the national team are still in arguments with the South African Football Federation (SAFA) over unpaid match fees. They are still asking for better facilities and logistics and still desperate for a sponsor (even more so now that longstanding backer Sasol has yet to renew its 16-year agreement). The buildup to this Wafcon was as chaotic as ever with players boycotting a training session to demand the money owed to them, and complained about small, shared hotel rooms and being expected to play in scorching temperatures in a north African (and southern European) heatwave at the base in Oujda, 15km from the Algerian border and the hottest of the host venues. The chief executive of Safa, Lydia Monyepao, said the weekend before the tournament began that 'the disagreement arose because of the payment dates. However, we have since addressed that matter. But it must be clear that this is not to do with the bonuses for Wafcon. This is about match fees for friendly matches.' When approached by Moving the Goalposts the governing body said it would make no further comments on the issue. As Motlhalo put it, 10 days into the event, not a lot has changed except that all 12 teams have got on with things amid some grumpiness. A general lack of interest in Morocco, apart from matches involving the hosts, has raised concerns about the seriousness with which women's football is regarded. So too, has the fact that the games are being played at second-tier stadiums as the main ones are renovated for the men's Afcon and the 2030 World Cup. Is this Wafcon an afterthought? Given that it was supposed to take place a year ago and another will kick off in nine months' time, it could be that is how it is regarded for everyone but those involved, who are making what they can of this opportunity. Take Ghana, a country that last qualified for the knockouts nine years ago and who are now unveiling a new generation of players. Their Swedish head coach, Kim Björkegren, has said the Black Queens are more talented than his own compatriots but lacking the Scandinavian attention to minor detail which could elevate them to the next level. 'Ghana has so much talent. It's something in the DNA,' he said. 'If you can add 5% of the Swedish organisation, we're going to have a team that is good, not just in Africa, but in the world.' Or take the Senegalese striker Nguenar Ndiaye, who plays at French third-division club Bourges Foot 18, and is the joint leading goalscorer after the group stage. Ndiaye, like so many women at this tournament, started off playing with and against boys to the disapproval of her parents and has since had to climb every rung on the ladder to a contract with an overseas club. She embodies the resilience that it takes to succeed and her advice to young hopefuls from a Confederation of African Football interview a few years back has the same relevance today. 'Playing football is really difficult, but it's also very rewarding,' she said. 'It's very holy, and it doesn't prevent you from living your life as a woman of your time.' Ultimately, that is the discussion we still need to have at the Wafcon: how to balance conversations around pure football with the broader social issues facing African female athletes. While the captains at Euro 2025 are wearing the rainbow armband to support LGBTQI+ rights, homosexuality is illegal in 10 of the 12 participating Wafcon nations. While the European players are talking tactics and strategies, the Africans are doing that while looking for ways to get paid. While women's football in Europe grows exponentially – Uefa's most recent report records a five-time increase in the last 20 years and over 1.2 million registered players – CAF's promotional video for this tournament is a call to action to encourage young girls to play. Indeed, while there are big groups of young boys in Moroccan football shirts kicking a ball about late into the night, the girls are absent. In the coastal town of Saidia, one hour away from the host city of Oujda, in a cafe set up to broadcast the Morocco-Senegal game, a young girl in a football jersey walked in with her family in the first encouraging sign that there is interest among the targeted demographic. However, she ordered an ice-cream and ate it with her back turned to the screens as Morocco won 1-0. Her reaction might have been different had she heard South Africa in full voice in what can only be described as spine-tinglingly inspirational. South Africa do not plan these chants. They sing in the bus and in the tunnel before every game, entirely spontaneously. The squad has a repertoire of traditional songs to hand, they don't know any of the names and on any given day, one of them starts and the rest join in. It's an instinctive expression of identity and cannot be explained any better than that. It's only fitting that they are doing it with such gusto here. Morocco is a country of music, often performed informally and almost always loudly. On the weekend of the Wafcon final, Oujda will host a raï music festival, celebrating a genre that originates in western Algeria, is rooted in Bedouin traditions and often sung by women. The tournament will have left this region by then but hopefully the beat of this event will live on. On the up: Awareness of the Women's Euros is growing. According to Ipsos data, 82% of British people are aware of the tournament this summer, compared to 75% at a similar stage in 2022 and that is set to grow if England progress further. More than half (58%) of 'self-described football fans' and almost a third of casual watchers are following the tournament closely, while almost half the fans (46%) believe enough is being done to tackle sexism. All change: The 10th edition of the Copa América Femenina is under way in Ecuador to make it a hat-trick of continental competitions on the go at the same time. Unlike previous editions, this tournament will not form part of qualification for the next World Cup, with a separate round-robin tournament starting later this year. Brazil, who will host the 2027 Women's World Cup, have already qualified and are the defending Copa champions. They have lifted the trophy eight times. Argentina are the only other winners of the tournament, in 2006. Both countries started their campaigns with wins. In case you missed it, the most exciting match of the Wafcon group stage was in Group A, where Senegal took a surprise lead against Zambia, who then went ahead and had to hold on as Senegal pulled one back with 10 minutes to go. Watch the highlights here. It's a lack of respect. You wouldn't have this Club World Cup or the men's World Cup or any other men's competition clashing. Maybe having all the women's competitions together may be a plus but you shouldn't have a big competition like the Club World Cup at the same time. For lack of a better word, it's a distraction, when everybody should be watching the women's game' – South Africa coach Desiree Ellis slams the scheduling clash between the men's Club World Cup, Wafcon and women's Euros. Chloe Kelly is backing England's 'positive clique' of finishers to deliver against Sweden in their Euro 2025 quarter-final, reports Suzy Wrack, who has also heard from Leah Williamson about putting her friendship with Arsenal teammate Stina Blackstenius to one side. Tom Garry on how Sweden became a progressive powerhouse of women's football. Jonathan Liew also previews England v Sweden, and why Sarina Wiegman's side must respect opponents who smashed Germany and are a model of tournament consistency. In her latest column, Emma Hayes picks out some of England's biggest strengths, including Ella Toone's on-pitch telepathy with Alessia Russo. Joanna Wiśniowska explains why Poland's Euro 2025 showing has transformed a nation's view of women's football. And every transfer deal in the NWSL, WSL, Liga F, Frauen-Bundesliga, Première Ligue and Serie A Femminile as well as a club-by-club guide, can be found in our snazzy transfer interactive.
