Sasol, an integrated energy and chemical company, has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with diamond company De Beers and global mining giant Anglo American to launch a renewable diesel pilot project in South Africa.
The initiative aims to evaluate the commercial and technical viability of producing renewable diesel.
The project will use Solaris and Moringa crops to produce vegetable oil, which will then serve as feedstock for Sasol’s existing facilities, designed to produce low-cost renewable diesel.
“Renewable diesel is transformative. It meets conventional diesel standards while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Our customers can use it as a drop-in fuel to meet their emissions reduction goals,” said Dr. Sarushen Pillay, Sasol’s Executive Vice President of Business Building, Strategy, and Technology.
De Beers has already conducted pre-feasibility studies and will contribute up to 20 hectares of land for feedstock cultivation.
Alison Atkinson, Anglo American’s Projects and Development Director, highlighted the project’s importance in the company’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
“This innovation is a key part of our sustainability efforts and our goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations.”