FUELLING THE DE WILDT CHEETAH TRACKER

The De Wildt Cheetah Tracker will cover many hundreds of thousands of kilometers.  This is one of the most equipment and cost intensive areas of the study which is why Sasol Chevron has stepped in to help.

Sasol Chevron has supplied two 'M' class Mercedes to transport the tracker teams.  These vehicles are unique in South Africa and use the very latest in European emissions abatement technology.

Sasol Chevron has also supplied the fuel to run these vehicles - revolutionary GTL diesel.  Not only will using this ultra clean diesel fuel improve vehicle performance but it will also reduce tailpipe emissions compared to using standard fuel.  For every 10,000 kilometres travelled, each vehicle will produce one kilogramme less of particulate matter, 650 grammes less of sulphur and 180 kilogrammes less of CO2.  In gas form, this CO2 figure is the equivalent of about 125,000 party balloons.

Sasol Chevron was established in October 2000 as a 50/50 joint venture between Sasol and Chevron to pursue the commercial application of GTL technology.

The joint venture combines Sasol's long track record of successful synthetic fuel production and related technology development with Chevron's international presence, global market reach and project resources.

Sasol Chevron combines complementary technologies in order to develop GTL projects worldwide and produce premium, environmentally friendly fuels.  Currently it is pursuing GTL and other gas utilisation opportunities in Qatar, providing management, operating and technical services for the owners of EGTL in Nigeria and acting as the marketing agent for the world's largest operational GTL plant: ORYX GTL.

In 2006, a vehicle drove all the way from South Africa to Qatar on GTL diesel.  When the oil was compared with oil from a support vehicle that had been running on standard diesel, and which had been changed at the halfway point, the cleaner performance of GTL was immediately apparent. 

The De Wildt Cheetah Tracker will be able to take full advantage of GTL diesel's superior qualities.

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GTL TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS

Sasol Chevron uses the Sasol Slurry Phase Distilate™ process to convert natural gas to low emissions, high performance diesel fuel and other products.

The process consists of three main processing steps:

1. Natural Gas Reforming
2. Fischer-Tropsch Conversion
3. Product Upgrading

This process is used by ORYX GTL, the largest operational GTL plant in the world and will also be used by EGTL, now under construction in Nigeria.  Both plants are designed to produce GTL diesel and GTL naphtha.

GTL diesel has a very high cetane number (over 70) and very low sulphur and aromatic content which enables significant reductions in exhaust gas emissions.

Compatible with existing fuel distribution infrastructure and with current and envisaged future engine technologies, GTL diesel can also be used as an efficient blend component.

The GTL naphtha is a highly paraffinic (95%+) material, ideally suited for producing ethylene and is an efficient liquid feedstock for ethylene cracking.