Sasol's China CTL Deal: Application Review Almost Complete

Sasol expects China’s National Development and Reform Commission to conclude a review of its application to build a 90 000-bl/d coal-to-liquids (CTL) facility in that country. Sasol entered into a 50:50 venture with Shenhua Ningxia to develop the $10-billion project, which is said to be the largest foreign single project direct investment in China and also the country's largest-ever CTL fuels project. China's National Energy Administration has appointed Chinese International Engineering Consultative Company (CIECC) to arrange a panel of experts to facilitate a review of the ‘project application report.'

The CTL plant would be Sasol's first CTL investment outside South Africa, where the technology is used to produce about 40% of the country's fuel. President Jacob Zuma traveled to China on Monday for the State visit. Zuma will visit Shanghai to view the South African Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. The expo was opened on May 1, and will continue until October 31. (Engineering News, 8/23/2010)