THAT ENGEN FIRE and other matters

Engen refinery head honcho, Willem Oosthuizen, has been drawn on the possibility of shifting the plant (or some of it) or expanding it to the land that will be made available once Durban's airport shifts to La Mercy by 2010. Building a completely new one, he said was not possible because building a new refinery would cost between R15-billion and R20-billion. Hm... that should make the Richards Bay and Coega wannabee refiners sharpen their pencils. Or, are we actually all looking at Government in some shape or form to come to the party -- as was the case with Sasol and Mossgas? Watch this space taxpayers! Sasol has already twisted the Government's arm over the Waterberg (or Free State ) expansion. Once a subsidised entity, always a subsidised entity. So much easier than risking your own money.