EGTL will use Sasol's world-renowned Slurry Phase Distillate(TM) (SPD) Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process and Sasol, the South African-based petrochemical company, is also providing a portion of the risk-based finance for the project.
The announcement was made in Nigeria by the EGTL owners, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), earlier today.
This contract provides a major boost to the development of GTL diesel, which is set to revolutionise the performance of diesel technology and improve air quality by reducing vehicle emissions.
The plant will be built at the CNL facility at Escravos in Nigeria's Delta province and is planned to produce 34,000 barrels per day of GTL products including GTL diesel, GTL naphtha and a small amount of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Sasol chief executive Pieter Cox says: "This project is an affirmation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) goal of achieving sustainable socio-political stability and economic growth in Africa. We are very proud to be working with a fellow African company to deliver a cutting edge solution to the world's future transport fuel needs."
EGTL will be only the second commercial-scale GTL plant outside of South Africa making Nigeria a key producer of top quality GTL products. Oryx GTL, a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Sasol, is the world's first commercial scale GTL plant and is expected to start producing by the first quarter of 2006.
GTL diesel is very low in aromatics and is a low, almost no-sulphur product, which reduces environmental emissions. GTL's power rating (cetane) is almost 50% more than the cetane rating of traditional diesel, allowing a reduction in noise and smoke together with improved cold-start properties and improved overall performance.
Compatible with existing diesel technology and easily distributed using existing infrastructure, major motor manufacturers view GTL as an important part of the future fuel slate, especially where air quality is a pressing issue. DaimlerChrysler has already begun research into GTL diesel and its effect on emissions and engine performance.
Sasol is at the forefront of the GTL industry and, together with its partners, is planning to produce 500 000 bbls/day of liquid fuels from natural gas by end of 2013. Sasol currently produces 160 000 bbls/day of liquid fuels from synthetic gas derived from coal at its Secunda facility in South Africa.
Sasol, with a market capitalisation of approximately USD 17 billion, is an integrated oil and gas group with substantial chemical interests. Based in South Africa and operating in 15 other countries throughout the world, Sasol is the leading provider of liquid fuels in South Africa and a major international producer of chemicals, using a world leading technology for the commercial production of synthetic fuels and chemicals from low grade coal. In the future Sasol expects to apply this technology to convert natural gas to diesel and chemicals. Sasol manufactures over 200 fuel and chemical products that are sold in more than 90 countries and also operates coal mines to provide feedstock for synthetic fuels and chemical plants. The company also manufactures and markets synthesis gas and operates the only inland crude oil refinery in South Africa. Internet address: www.sasol.com
Disclaimer - Sasol Ltd
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