SASOL'S DUBIOUS DISTINCTION

ONCE more Sasol has managed to get up the nose of the Americans, an inevitable result of the arrogance that has characterised its management ever since its inception. This time, Sasol has run foul of the Yanks by its presence in Iran -- a polymer ( plastics) plant which is one of its three largest capital expenditure projects. The company has been named on the list of errant enterprises drawn up by the Securities and Exchange Commission, raising questions about the honesty of Sasol's mandatory disclosures to the New York Stock Exchange. Sasol is trying to wriggle its way out of this cleft stick by arguing that its polymer plant is not oil or gas or oil exploration -- activities explicitly targeted by the US which considers Iran a "state sponsor of terrorism". Looming on the horizon is the possibility of US sanctions against Sasol, including restrictions on its ability to raise money in the US. Spigot has a few questions for Sasol top management: " Do any of you ever read newspapers? Don't you know Iran is technically at war with the US and has been since 1979?" Just wondering.