Musings on Sasol and Transnet pipelines

ONE of Spigot's readers has made the assertion that if Transnet Pipelines ( formerly Petronet) had not made a deal to reverse the flow of one of their Durban-to-Johannesburg pipelines so that instead of carrying finished products ( diesel, jetfuel and petrol) from Durban to the Reef, it now carries only gas from Sasol to various industries in Natal, then we wouldn't be in the shtuck we are in now, ie unable next year to supply our main industrial area without huge effort using road tankers. Of course, nothing here is exactly "news". But it does raise some interesting " what ifs". For example, what if the new Transnet pipeline runs into difficulties and cannot come on stream in time for the World Cup? What if there are not enough road tankers and road tanker drivers to take up the slack? What if the Railways cannot get their act together fast enough to supply an alternative (and safer) method of transport? And here's the real question; Will Sasol then, in the national interest, release its stranglehold and allow the existing gas line to revert once more to its original purpose of transporting fuels? Will Sasol gas customers in Durban scream blue murder? Just wondering. I mean, Sasol has lotsamoney and it is always claiming to be a national asset. How about it acting like one.