President Ramaphosa Updated on Sasol Operations During Secunda Visit
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Sasol’s Secunda Operations in Mpumalanga, where he received a comprehensive briefing on the company’s integrated operations and its contribution to South Africa’s economic growth, industrial development, energy security and job creation. According to SAnews, the visit gave the President a first-hand view of one of the country’s largest industrial complexes and highlighted Sasol’s strategic role in converting locally mined coal into a broad range of fuel and chemical products that support major sectors of the economy.
The Presidency said the Secunda complex beneficiates approximately 35 million tonnes of locally mined coal each year, producing liquid fuels, chemicals and other industrial products that feed into South Africa’s manufacturing, logistics, energy and infrastructure systems. This makes the site far more than a single corporate operation. It is a major industrial engine, linking mining, processing, technology, refining, distribution and downstream production in a value chain that has national economic significance.
During the briefing, President Ramaphosa was updated on Sasol’s integrated value chain, which spans mining, gasification, proprietary Fischer-Tropsch technology, refining, logistics and chemical production. This chain reflects one of South Africa’s most complex industrial capabilities, turning raw resources into higher-value products used across everyday life and productive sectors. From fuels that power transport to chemicals used in manufacturing, plastics, infrastructure materials and industrial inputs, Sasol’s operations remain deeply connected to the functioning of the broader economy.
The President’s visit also focused on Sasol’s contribution to local manufacturing, supply-chain development, skills creation and employment. Large industrial facilities such as Secunda do not operate in isolation. They support networks of contractors, service providers, small and medium enterprises, technical specialists and logistics partners. Earlier remarks by the President during the visit described Sasol as one of South Africa’s key industrial and economic contributors, noting that the Secunda plant alone employs around 6 000 people, while the number of people on site can rise significantly when service providers are included.
Ramaphosa described Sasol as a “national treasure” and one of the real industrial actors in the South African economy. His comments reflected the scale and symbolism of the company’s operations. Few industrial sites in the country demonstrate beneficiation as visibly as Secunda, where coal is transformed through advanced technology into fuels, gases, chemicals and other products. The President said it was impressive to see how coal could be converted into diesel, petrol, gas, sulphur-based products and plastics that support households, businesses and infrastructure development.
The briefing also dealt with Sasol’s ongoing investments in maintaining a competitive industrial base, improving operational efficiency and advancing transition initiatives. This is a critical part of the story because South Africa’s industrial future must balance economic stability with environmental responsibility. Sasol’s operations are essential to energy security and industrial supply, but the company also operates in a world where cleaner technologies, emissions reduction, efficiency improvements and long-term transition planning are becoming increasingly important. The challenge is to maintain jobs and production while preparing for a lower-carbon future.
The visit follows Sasol’s R60 billion investment pledge at the South Africa Investment Conference, where the company signalled confidence in the country’s economy and committed investment across its chemicals and packaging operations. Such investment commitments matter because they help sustain industrial capacity, support suppliers, protect jobs and strengthen investor confidence. For government, large-scale industrial investment is central to the goal of growing the economy, expanding production and creating more inclusive opportunities.
Sasol’s role in energy security was another key theme of the visit. South Africa’s economy depends on a reliable supply of liquid fuels and chemical products to keep transport, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and public services moving. The Secunda Operations contribute to this security by producing products that reduce dependence on imported supply chains and support domestic industrial activity. In a global environment marked by energy shocks, logistics disruptions and geopolitical uncertainty, local production capacity remains an important national asset.
President Ramaphosa was accompanied by Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu and hosted by Sasol President and Chief Executive Officer Simon Baloyi, Sasol Independent Non-Executive Director and Chairperson of the Board Muriel Dube, together with members of the Sasol Group Executive Committee. The high-level engagement signalled the importance of cooperation between government and major industrial players. For South Africa to grow, the public and private sectors must work together to unlock investment, strengthen supply chains, develop skills and support industrial competitiveness.
