Sasol threatens the Waterberg

SO, Sasol is going to build a new coal to liquids fuel plant, either in the Waterberg or in the Free State somewhere. Stand by for the usual screech of horror from the Greenies. The new plant will produce some 80 000 barrels a day, upping Sasol's contribution to national liquid fuels energy needs from around 40% to what? 60%? I only ask because that might make it difficult, in the short run, to find a market for Sapref's entire production. It is also not good news for the other oil company's inland fuel retailers in Gauteng, especially if Sasol service stations continue to spring up. Surpluses in Sapref production will probably go up the East African coast somewhere. If it does, watch out for the usual "they are exporting our fuel!" headlines written by ignorant journalists. But wouldn't it be nice if it all meant cheaper fuel in South Africa? Perhaps, even a price war on petrol? That would be something to see. Spigot is not holding his breath, though. Sasol probably predicates its expansion on the existing, tightly-controlled pump price system. The ANC Government certainly doesn't want to change the slickest-ever tax-gathering system. Oh, how quickly the pigs turn into farmers, as George Orwell would have said.