Sasol is a step closer to decarbonizing its Secunda site, operated by Air Liquide.
On Tuesday, a consortium made up of TotalEnergies Renewables South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Mulilo Energy Holdings (Pty) Limited, and Reatile Renewables (Pty) Ltd (Reatile), reached Financial Close on an agreement to supply 260 MW of wind and solar PV energy to the site in Secunda.
Sasol and Air Liquide Large Industries South Africa signed two Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) with TotalEnergies and Mulilo in February 2023 for the decarbonisation of Sasol’s Secunda site. The site is dubbed the world’s largest oxygen production plant.
The PPAs include Mulilo Energy’s De Aar 2 South Wind Farm, which will produce 140 MW and Paarde Valley, a 120 MW Solar PV plant.
Since 2021, Sasol has become South Africa’s largest private sector buyer of renewable energy.
Sasol has two renewable energy plants in operation which include Sasol’s own 3 MW solar PV facility in Sasolburg, operational since June 2023, and the 69 MW Msenge wind farm, which reached commercial operations in October 2024.
About 688 MW is under construction, with Air Liquide comprising, a large Free State based 97,5 MW solar project; the Impofu cluster, consisting of three onshore wind projects totaling 330 MW of wind renewable energy; and now Paarde Valley PV2 Solar PV Farm and the Mulilo De Aar 2 South Wind Farm, adding 120 MW and 140 MW.
Dr Sarushen Pillay, Executive Vice President of Sasol’s Business Building, Strategy and Technology Business said, “Our plans to meet our target of 1 200 MW of renewable energy, and beyond, by 2030, is moving at pace and in an advanced stage of development. Once operational, the projects will significantly contribute to Sasol achieving its 30% GHG reduction target by 2030.”
With Sasol being South Africa’s largest private sector buyer of renewable energy, the renewables procured by Sasol to date is expected to inject between R18 and 20 billion into SA economy.
The targeted commercial operations date for Paarde Valley and Mulilo De Aar 2 is expected at the end of 2026.