Sasol Limited Integrated Report 2021 - Book - Page 50
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Chemicals Business at a glance (CONTINUED)
Innovation
Resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic gave us an opportunity to change the
way we do business, with a large proportion of our non-plant
people having to work from home and interact virtually with our
customers, suppliers and each other. While technology enabled
this, the personal relationships that we have with our stakeholders
sustained us and ensured that product was produced, supplied
and sold to customers all over the world. The pandemic reinforced
the value of producing and selling product across the globe as
we were able to continue selling despite global supply chain
challenges. The breadth of our portfolio allowed us to pivot our
products in diverse applications and markets, supporting our
robustness and resilience in uncertain times.
Looking ahead
• Overall sales volumes for the FY22 are expected to be in line
with FY21 levels despite the impact of the asset divestitures
and lower planned production at Chemicals Africa, largely due to
the continued ramp-up of LCCP units, absence of FY21 adverse
weather events and improved market demand.
• Continued oil price volatility and the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic may impact volumes and prices during the FY22.
• Delivery of benefits associated with Sasol 2.0 transformation
programme.
• Completion of previously announced asset divestiture
programme.
• Further development and implementation of our sustainability
ambitions.
Sasol Chemicals sells many of its products into specialised applications, including home, fabric and personal care; inks, paints, coatings and adhesives;
polymer additives, agribusiness and metalworking. Sasol works closely with its customers to understand the needs and trends in general markets.
When appropriate, we also undertake exclusive joint developments with customers to develop specific products or formulations to enhance the
performance of their products. We also participate in relevant industry forums, monitor trends in patents and publications and conduct various
innovation-focused initiatives within the organisation to generate ideas and share knowledge.
Sasol Chemicals sells a critical chemical
building block for messenger RNA COVID-19
vaccines. Sasol’s ISOCARB 16 is a key
ingredient in a unique lipid nanoparticle
that creates a fatty layer of protection
for the vaccine’s active component,
allowing it to safely make its journey into
the body’s cells.
Sasol Chemicals’ calcined coke,
manufactured at Secunda complex,
South Africas, is used to produce highquality synthetic graphite for lithium-ion
batteries that power a variety of devices
including electric vehicles. The consistency,
purity and unique chemistry of Sasol’s
calcined coke make our products ideal for
use in Li-ion battery applications.
Sasol’s unique chemistry enables the
development of biomass plastic composites
to make durable wood-like items such
as park benches, playground decking,
garden furniture, flooring, automotive
parts and more. Wood plastic composites
combine agricultural or wood waste with
plastic waste yielding a more sustainable
and functional material than wood or
plastic products. Using waste materials
from both resources helps reduce plastic
waste in the environment and relieves
pressure on natural resources.
Sasol Chemicals’ latest generation
Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalyst was
successfully commercialised at two of our
FT licencees. It offers additional benefits
to our customers due to its higher activity
and improved selectivity compared with the
previous generation catalyst. This improved
performance results in lower catalyst cost
per barrel of product produced. In addition,
our catalyst offers a technology foundation
for future sustainable fuels production
via power to liquid applications.
CEREWIN EN 252V, derived from
Sasol Chemicals ALFOL C20+ alcohols,
is the latest innovation within the
Agricultural Solutions offering. Its use on
certain crops is intended to manage
increasing abiotic stresses associated
with climate change. When diluted in
water and sprayed, the self-emulsifying
product imparts a fine coating on leaves
helping moderate effects of excessive heat
stress and sun damage on the plant.
Sasol Chemicals has recently introduced
new castor oil-based emulsifiers for
use in agrochemical and metalworking
and lubrication applications. These
MARLOWET RVZ and CEREWIN LVO ranges
combine superior performance in terms
of emulsification and emulsion stability,
with a high (>60%) content of renewable
components and easy handling due to
their non-hazardous nature. This new
generation of esters represents a significant
further development of an existing product
range, with the improved properties being
welcomed in these key markets.
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Sasol Integrated Report 2021