Ramaphosa visits Sasol’s Secunda operations as company advances green hydrogen plans
Presidential tour highlights Sasol's role in energy security while the company explores lower-carbon technologies through a new partnership with Envision Energy
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Sasol’s Secunda Operations on Thursday, August 6, where he was briefed on the company’s plans to strengthen the long-term sustainability of its integrated value chain through renewable energy, lower-carbon technologies and innovation.
The visit highlighted Sasol’s contribution to South Africa’s energy security, industrial capability and economic growth, while showcasing how the company is positioning its Secunda operations for a lower-carbon future and supporting thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
During the tour, Ramaphosa received an overview of Sasol’s integrated operations and the role they play in supporting manufacturing, skills development, innovation and local value creation in Mpumalanga and across the country.
The visit comes as Sasol takes another step in its energy transition strategy by commissioning Envision Energy, a global green technology company, to conduct a design study for a green hydrogen system at its Sasolburg operations.
The study will assess how renewable energy generation, battery energy storage and electrolyser technologies could be integrated to support green hydrogen production. If the project proceeds following the study and future investment decisions, the green hydrogen could be used to produce eMethanol and potentially sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF).
The collaboration was showcased during South African Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s visit to Envision’s Chifeng Hydrogen Net Zero Industrial Park in Inner Mongolia during the South Africa–China Electricity and Energy Investment Conference in Beijing this week.
According to Sasol, the initiative forms part of its ongoing assessment of technologies that could help reduce emissions while building on its existing industrial infrastructure and expertise.
“The design study with Envision is an important step in assessing how integrated renewables, energy storage and electrolyser technologies could support cost-competitive green hydrogen production at Sasolburg. By drawing on leading global expertise, we can evaluate how these technologies may contribute to future lower-carbon fuel and chemical value chains, while building on Sasol’s existing industrial capabilities,” said Danie Cronje, Sasol Senior Vice President: Business Building.
Envision Energy said the partnership demonstrates how international collaboration can accelerate industrial decarbonisation through renewable energy, energy storage and green hydrogen technologies.
The design phase is expected to conclude later this year and will provide the technical and commercial information needed to determine the project’s next steps.
Together, Ramaphosa’s visit to Secunda and Sasol’s latest green hydrogen initiative underscore the company’s efforts to balance its role as one of South Africa’s key industrial players with its ambitions to develop cleaner energy solutions.
