PetroSA to Invest in Synthetic Fuels

PetroSA is set to further invest in alternative fuel development with a  R36 million investment into the establishment of a synthetic fuels research facility at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. PetroSA already has a gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility in Mossel Bay – the largest in the world – providing 45,000 barrels of liquid synthetic fuels to the South African market daily.

The facility will include a laboratory that will contain a pilot plant reactor for the study of conversion of olefins to distillate (COD) – a part of the GTL process.

“Olefins represent a vital energy resource for South Africa and for the African continent as a whole. Thus, the identification and monetization of suitable alternative olefinic COD feedstock by PetroSA is a major national interest,” PetoSA vice-president for new ventures – midstream Jorn Falbe said.

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