Sasol show off stuff during 50th anniversary celebration
Published 2:27 pm Monday, October 24, 2011
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WESTLAKE — Sasol marked its 50th anniversary in Southwest Louisiana on Saturday by ceremonially breaking ground on its new tetramerization unit, which the company says will be the first of its kind in the world.
The new plant, scheduled to open in 2013, will convert ethylene to materials used in products such as trash bags, food packaging and toys.
Joe Makhoere, managing director of Sasol Solvents, said the new unit will help Sasol retain its position as a powerhouse of the chemical industry.
“We are excited about this unit because of what it means for our business,” said Makhoere, who noted that the new complex would increase the company’s capacity to produce certain chemicals by 40 percent. “It’s nice to be on top and stay on top.”
The managing director of Sasol Olefins and Surfactants, Fleetwood Grobler, said the region and state stand to gain from the new facility.
“The community of Southwest Louisiana is benefiting from this pro-ject,” Grobler said. He said the Louisiana Department of Economic Development estimated that the unit will result in 36 permanent jobs, 347 indirect jobs and about 500 temporary construction jobs. Over a 10-year period, LED said the complex would generate about $30 million in tax revenue for state and local authorities.
Sasol’s symbolic ground breaking came as the company hosted a community open house to celebrate its half-century in the Lake Area. The event, which was free to the public, included chemical demonstrations and tours of Sasol facilities.
K Wink
