Name of the Project
Twistdraai Thubelisha coal destoning project.

Location
Secunda, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Integrated energy and chemical company Sasol.

Project Description
The project involves repurposing Sasol’s Twistdraai Thubelisha export coal plant into a ten-million-ton-a-year destoning facility to improve the quality of coal being used in Sasol’s Secunda gasifiers.

The destoning plant will reduce the average ‘sinks’ (rock fragments or other impurities) content of coal being used by the gasifiers to between 12% and 14%, once blended with coal from Sasol’s Bosjesspruit and Twistdraai Thubelisha mines, where the sinks content is estimated at as high as 20%.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not disclosed.

Capital Expenditure
The project was completed within a budget of about R700-million.

Planned Start/End Date
The plant achieved beneficial operation in December 2025.

Latest Developments
Sasol officially opened its new destoning plant on March 13, marking a significant milestone to enhance coal quality and drive improved operational performance.

The company has said that, since commissioning, the plant has contributed to a reduction in average sinks for the first quarter of this financial year to below 14%, supporting improved coal quality availability to Secunda Operations and helping to increase overall production for the quarter. 

“It is pleasing to report that the plant is already delivering meaningful quality improvements . . .” Sasol president and CEO Simon Baloyi has said.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Not disclosed.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sasol, tel +27 10 344 5000 or email media@sasol.com.