| Work Detail |
R&D to assess the technical and commercial viability of a variety of feedstocks, enabling renewable diesel production Sasol, Anglo-American and De Beers will trial a bio-diesel manufacturing project involving planting Solaris and Moringa crops to produce fuel. The partnership is looking to generate feedstock for renewable diesel production. The companies signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) at Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Tuesday (4 February), which is aimed at “furthering the companies’ decarbonisation ambitions.” The partnership will “drive renewable diesel production in South Africa using sustainable feedstocks to advance the energy transition and support economic development.” The objective of the JDA is to assess the technical and commercial viability of feedstock production, starting with Solaris and Moringa plantations to generate vegetable oil. Sasol’s existing assets can take a variety of feedstocks, enabling them to produce renewable diesel using vegetable oil quicker than greenfield projects and at lower costs. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Sarushen Pillay, Executive Vice President of Sasol’s Business Building, Strategy and Technology portfolio, said: “Renewable diesel is transformative. It meets the technical standards of conventional diesel while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “Our customers can, therefore, use it as a ‘drop-in’ fuel in their existing equipment and machinery to meet their greenhouse gas reduction commitments. Partnering with Anglo American, we’re investigating the development of a local and cost-effective supply chain for sustainable feedstock, utilising vegetable oil to produce renewable diesel in our facilities. “As we innovate for a better world, Sasol’s ambition is clear – to help our customers navigate the energy transition while delivering high-quality, sustainable solutions for a low-carbon future.” Decarbonisation goals Anglo-American’s Director of Projects and Development Alison Atkinson said: “This is an important initiative that will strengthen our commitment to reducing our scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. It is an innovation that contributes to our sustainability journey as a business and our quest to maintain a healthy environment by creating carbon-neutral operations. “The initiative aligns with De Beers’ Origins strategy, reflecting a strong focus on sustainable practices and innovation. It also fits in well with De Beers’ strategy to replace fossil fuel, which is a critical element of the 2030 decarbonisation goals. “Pre-feasibility studies have been approved, and renewable diesel production trials have been initiated within De Beers mining operations and host communities,” said Atkinson. Although renewable diesel production in South Africa is not yet at a commercial scale, recent market engagements indicate that the country’s renewable fuels market is promising, driven by end customer demands and their decarbonisation targets, said the companies. The project is expected to “start small” with crops set to be planted on 20 hectares of land which De Beers will make available. Moringa, Solaris in bio-fuel production According to sciencedirect.com Moringa (oleifera) is one of the most widely cultivated crops in tropical and sub-tropical areas worldwide. “The common name is drumstick, which contains six to 10 seeds. The matured seeds yield 38% to 40% of colourless and odourless vegetable oil. “The oil contains concentrated oleic acid, which has the potential to be used as a biodiesel.” The Solaris tobacco (nicotine-free) plant has been used previously by the KZN Solaris Biodiesel Project to cultivate and process the crop to produce biodiesel. In 2016, South African Airways made history as the first airline in Africa to operate commercial flights powered by sustainable aviation fuel produced from Solaris. |
