Alternative Energy Forums - Sasol sets the pace for GTL & CTL

Sasol's global gas, coal ambitions

January 18 2011 at 06:07pm

SASOL'S GLOBAL GAS AND COAL AMIBITIONS

QATAR

Sasol's Oryx joint venture is the world's only large-scale commercial gas-to-liquids plant. Following start-up problems, the facility operated at 83 percent of nameplate capacity in the first quarter of financial 2011 with production averaging 27000 barrels a day.

NIGERIA

A Nigerian gas-to-liquids project in which Sasol has a 10 percent stake is expected to start production in 2012.

CHINA

Sasol is awaiting feedback from China's National Development and Reform Commission and the State Council on an 80000 barrel-a-day coal-to-liquids plant at the Ningdong Chemicals Base in the arid Ningxia province. It said last month it would consider an investment decision thereafter.

UZBEKISTAN

The group signed a joint venture agreement to develop a 1.3 million ton-a-year gas-to-liquids project in Uzbekistan in 2009. It said last month it was nearing completion of the feasibility study and was 'satisfied with the progress made thus far'.

NORTH AMERICA

Sasol acquired 50 percent of the Farrell Creek shale gas field last month and said it would probe the feasibility of a new gas-to-liquids facility in the region.

INDIA

Sasol is conducting a pre-feasibility study into a joint venture coal-to-liquids facility in India after being awarded long-term access to a portion of the Talcher coalfield in Orissa. It is the largest coal block ever made to a private company in India.

It is interesting to note that if RER's new technology goes ahead others will be able to repeat Sasol's feats at a much lower capex. And several Australian companies, especially ASX: CTP will be in the position to make over a trillion barrels of oil at below $28.