Sasol launched its new Destoning Plant on March 14 during a prestigious event on site, where the Minister of Mineral Affairs and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, gave the keynote address.

He said Sasol is a product of a crisis.

“Someone thought of creating an entity to replace imported fuel,” said Mantashe.

The president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Sasol, Simon Baloyi, also addressed the audience and said the day is a special milestone not only for Sasol but also for the community.

“We create jobs and generate revenue. Sasol Mining is the cornerstone of everything. We do mining on a huge scale and we are one of the largest mining companies in South Africa,” said Baloyi.

The goal of the Destoning Plant is to improve coal quality and strengthen operational performance. The plant started operating in December last year and it forms part of Sasol’s broader plan to strengthen, grow and transform its business.

This new plant was developed through the conversion of Twistdraai Export Plant and the facility removes high-density stone from the run-of-mine coal sourced from the Thubelisha and Bosjespruit mines.

By reducing ash and sinks before coal enters the gasification process, the plant helps improve syngas quality for Sasol’s synthetic fuels and chemicals value chain.

Since commissioning, the plant has contributed to a reduction in average sinks for Q1 FY26 to below 14%, supporting improved coal quality availability to Secunda Operations and helping to lift overall production for the quarter.

“This facility is a key commitment we made at Capital Markets Day in 2025, and it plays an important role in enhancing operational performance at Secunda Operations by enabling the processing of higher–quality, destoned coal,” said Baloyi.

“It is pleasing to report that the plant is already delivering meaningful quality improvements, with average sink levels to Secunda Operations trending downwards.”