Sasol has announced that its US$215mn gas engine power plant in Sasolburg has begun producing electricity for the first time as part of the facilitys test phase
The South African energy and chemical company said that the move marked a significant step for the company in boosting its own power generation capacity while reducing its carbon emissions.
The plant, using natural gas as feedstock, has an operating capacity of 140 MW and is the largest gas engine power plant installed in South Africa.
“This investment will reduce our CO2 emissions, while also easing our load on the national grid for the benefit of our communities,” said Henri Loubser, Managing Director, Sasol New Energy.
The facility will be fully commissioned and is expected to reach full capacity before the end of December 2012, one quarter ahead of schedule.
The combined heat and power facility will replace coal-fired power generation and reduce Sasol’s South African greenhouse gas emissions by approximately one million tons per annum.
