Sasol, Anglo American and De Beers team up to pilot renewable diesel

In South Africa, Sasol, Anglo American and De Beers entered into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) on Tuesday to pilot the production of feedstock for renewable diesel. This is an important initiative for both companies as they endeavor to establish the value chain for renewable fuels in South Africa.

Signed against the backdrop of the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, 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.

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.