Sasol's sale of the world's biggest oxygen production site gets thumbs up
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The Competition Commission has recommended the approval of Air Liquide South Africa’s acquisition of Sasol’s 16 air separation units (ASUs) in Secunda.
Together these units form the world's biggest oxygen production site, which produce oxygen and other gasses mainly used by Sasol in its production of fuels.
Sasol will earn R8.5 billion from the deal, which it will use to help settle its massive debt burden of more than R120 billion. Sasol has sold a number of its assets, including a 30% stake in a natural gas pipeline between Mozambique and South Africa, in recent months to stabilise its precarious financial position.
Air Liquide supplies industrial gases to different industries in South Africa, including the health sector, and the Competition Commission found that its takeover of Sasol's oxygen units was unlikely to result in the prevention or lessening of competition in the market.
But the commission does have some prerequisites for the deal, including that Air Liquide must commit to substantially reduce carbon emissions from the site in the next ten years. Also, it must agree to an agreement to buy 900 MW in renewable energy.
Other requirements include that it must invest in training affected employees, as well as in localisation, and it must provide surplus liquid oxygen to the healthcare sector, particularly to public facilities. The commission also have requirements around promoting diversity of ownership, and procuring services and products from small businesses and black-owned enterprises.
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