Sasol Synfuels since the 2006 financial year, post Clean Fuels 1 implementation. We continue to optimise our European chemical businesses’ production to match
lower demand and optimise margins in light of the continuing weak European market conditions. Production performance at our ORYX gas-to-liquids (GTL)
operations was in line with our expectations, taking into account the planned maintenance shutdown in February 2013. ASPC achieved a utilisation rate of 80% in
line with our production expectations.
Cash fixed costs, excluding once-off and growth costs and the impact of a weaker exchange rate, increased by 7% in real terms, primarily due to a challenging
South African cost environment in respect of labour, maintenance and electricity costs. Our current cost inflation is above the indicative South African producers’
price index inflation trends of 6,0% for the 2013 financial year. A key area of management focus is our cost optimisation project, where we are actively looking at
opportunities to significantly reduce and contain our cost base sustainably.
The effective tax rate of 31,7% is lower than the prior year’s effective tax rate of 32,6%. This resulted primarily from an increase in non-deductible expenses
relating mainly to once-off charges, which was offset by the absence of Secondary Tax on Companies, due to the implementation of dividend withholding tax, as
well as the increase in exempt income.
Cash flow generated by operating activities increased by 24% to R59,3 billion compared with R47,9 billion in the prior year. However, this was offset by increased
working capital, both as a result of price and volume effects. Capital investments for the year amounted to R32,3 billion.
Taking into account the ongoing strength of our financial position, current capital investment plans, as well as the progressive dividend policy, management has
recommended and the Sasol board has approved the final dividend. This approach remains in line with our commitment to consistently return sustainable value to
shareholders.
Chief Financial Officer, Christine Ramon says:
“We continue to demonstrate our strong cash flow generation ability across our businesses through the cycle. We remain committed to a progressive dividend
policy, barring significant economic variables such as abnormal fluctuations in the oil price and exchange rates. We continue to deliver value to shareholders, despite
the negative impact on our profitability of once-off charges, mainly impairments. Our balance sheet continues to be resilient, which positions the company well to
fund our attractive growth projects, our progressive dividend policy as well as to provide a buffer for volatility.”
Sasol fit for the future
To make Sasol fit for the future, we are taking decisive and proactive measures to secure our long-term growth and competitiveness.
During 2013, our focus on operational performance resulted in improved plant stability and higher production volumes. Looking ahead, under our business
performance enhancement programme, we will continue to improve operational productivity, while designing an effective operating model
for Sasol. Our aim is to implement initiatives, which address both cost creep and organisational complexity to ensure that we become a more effective, efficient and competitive
organisation over the long term.
Through our business performance enhancement programme, we expect to generate sustainable annual savings of at least R3 billion over the next two to three
years. The drivers for the savings target will be a combination of efficiency benefits stemming from our new operating model, productivity improvements in our
operations, designing “fit-for-purpose” group functions and procurement cost reduction strategies.
We will be able to share more details on the group’s new operating model, as well as the source and timelines of these savings at our interim results
announcement in March 2014.
Delivering on growth and operations excellence
We continue to progress on the delivery of our project pipeline and it is pleasing that:
• Looking at our growth projects:
– We continue to make progress on the execution of the front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase of an integrated, world-scale ethane
cracker and downstream derivatives units, and will commence with FEED for the US GTL and chemicals value-adds facility at the Lake Charles chemicals complex in Louisiana,
the United States, during the second half of the 2013 calendar year:
• The ethane cracker (estimated to cost between US$5 billion and US$7 billion) will produce 1,5 million tons of ethylene that will be used to manufacture a range
of ethylene derivatives. The main technologies for the ethane cracker and derivatives units have been selected and we have placed orders for critical long-lead
equipment. We expect beneficial operation for the ethane cracker to be achieved during the 2017 calendar year, with the final investment decision (FID) to be
taken during the 2014 calendar year.
• The US GTL facility (with an estimated cost of between US$11 billion and US$14 billion) will produce at least a nominal 96 000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of
product, with the potential to produce up to 10% more. The US GTL project will be delivered in two phases after the ethane cracker, with each phase comprising at
least 48 000 bbl/d. The FID for the US GTL project is expected to be taken within 18 to 24 months after that of the US ethane cracker.
• We have submitted the filings for the key environmental permits, and have regular interaction with the authorities and other stakeholders to monitor the process.
The outcome of the permit applications are expected towards the end of the FEED phase.
• We announced the introduction of a Voluntary Property Purchase Program for residents in designated areas to the northwest and west of our existing facility in
Westlake, Louisiana. This programme will provide eligible property owners with the option to sell their property to Sasol, and relocate to an alternative
neighbourhood, if they so choose.
• The Louisiana Joint Legislative Committee on the State’s Budget approved the Cooperative Endeavors Agreement (CEA) between Sasol and the State of Louisiana,
which facilitates the economic incentives package for the ethane cracker and US GTL projects.
• In June 2013, we signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ineos Olefins & Polymers USA (Ineos). The intent of the MOU is to form a joint venture to
manufacture high density polyethylene (HDPE). The proposed plant will produce 470 kilotons per annum of bimodal HDPE using an Innovene™ S process
technology licensed from Ineos, and will utilise ethylene from the Lake Charles cracker project to provide Sasol with integrated manufacturing economics. The final
investment decision for this plant is expected to be taken in the first half of the 2014 calendar year with start-up expected at the end of the 2015 calendar year.