Secunda CTL
{{Short description|Synthetic fuel plant in South Africa}}
Secunda CTL is a synthetic fuel plant owned by Sasol at Secunda, Mpumalanga in South Africa. It uses coal liquefaction to produce petroleum-like synthetic crude oil from coal. The process used by Sasol is based on the Fischer–Tropsch process. It is the largest coal liquefaction plant and the largest single emitter of greenhouse gas in the world.
Secunda CTL consists of two production units. The Sasol II unit was constructed in 1980 and the Sasol III unit in 1984.
{{cite news
|url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-793476071.html
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110215091445/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-793476071.html
|url-status= dead
|archive-date= 2011-02-15
|title= Sasol's Secunda CTL plant: costly to build, but now it's a cash cow
|publisher= Gas-to-Liquids News
|date=2005-11-01
|access-date=2009-08-02}}
It has total production capacity of {{convert|160000|oilbbl/d}}.
{{cite conference
|url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-793476071.html
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110215091445/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-793476071.html
|url-status= dead
|archive-date= 2011-02-15
|title= Sasol Gas-to-Liquids
|author = Pat Davies
|conference = 32nd Howard Weil Energy Conference
|location = New Orleans
|publisher= Sasol Petroleum International
|date= March 2004
|format = PDF
|access-date=2009-08-02}}
Greenhouse gas emissions
{{As of|2020|}} it is the world's largest single emitter of greenhouse gas, at 56.5 million tonnes {{CO2}} a year.{{Cite news|date=2020-03-17|title=The World's Biggest Emitter of Greenhouse Gases|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-03-17/south-africa-living-near-the-world-s-biggest-emitting-plant |access-date=2020-12-29}} However, if Afşin-Elbistan C power station in Turkey is built and operated at planned capacity it would emit over 60 million tonnes a year, though this project was stopped on the grounds of possible soil and air pollution.
Air Liquide acquired the 42,000 tons/day oxygen production in 2020, with plans for 900 MW power plants to reduce {{CO2}} emissions.{{cite web |last1=Parkinson |first1=Nick |title=Air Liquide finalises deal with Sasol |url=https://www.gasworld.com/air-liquide-finalises-deal-with-sasol/2019780.article |website=gasworld |language=en |date=2020-09-10}}{{cite web |last1=Creamer |first1=Terence |title=Sasol and Air Liquide initiate first phase of 900 MW renewables procurement process |url=https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/sasol-and-air-liquide-initiate-first-phase-of-900-mw-renewables-procurement-process-2021-04-13 |website=www.engineeringnews.co.za |language=en |date=13 April 2021}}
Unique plant infrastructure
The Sasol III Steam Plant has a {{convert|301|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall chimney built by Concor, which consists of a {{convert|292|m|ft|abbr=on}} high windshield and four {{convert|300|m|ft|abbr=on}} reinforced concrete flues which together with a {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}} high temporary roof on the 4th flue make it the tenth tallest structure, and the second tallest free-standing structure in Africa.{{cite web |url= http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b6525 |title= SASOL Synthetic Fuels Steam Plant 3 |publisher= Skyscraper Source Media |access-date=2009-08-02}} It remains the tallest structure in South Africa, and the tallest free-standing structure in sub-Saharan Africa.
In Media
As a major component of South Africa's economy, Secunda was in turn a major target of the African National Congress during the apartheid era{{Citation needed|date=June 2020|reason=If the target was major, describe how it was hit}}. Two ANC attacks (and their aftermath) were dramatized in the 2006 film Catch a Fire.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.netl.doe.gov/research/coal/energy-systems/gasification/gasifipedia/sasol|Commercial Use of FT Synthesis Operating Facilities Sasol - NETL official website}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-ach|rec}}
{{S-bef|before=JG Strijdom Tower|rows=2}}
{{S-ttl|title=Tallest structure in South Africa
Chimney of Sasol III: 301 m (988 ft)|years=1984 – present}}
{{S-inc}}
{{s-break}}
{{S-ttl|title=Tallest free-standing structure in Africa
Chimney of Sasol III: 301 m (988 ft)|years=1984 – 2021}}
{{S-aft|after=Iconic Tower}}
{{S-end}}
{{supertall chimneys}}
{{Coord|26|33|13.3|S|29|09|56.7|E|display=title|type:landmark}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Secunda Ctl}}
Category:Petroleum in South Africa
Category:Chimneys in South Africa
Category:Synthetic fuel facilities
Category:Energy infrastructure in South Africa