https://www.miningweekly.com

Receive our free daily newsletter:

Secunda

Secunda is a town in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, situated in the Gert Sibande District Municipality. The town lies approximately 130 km east of Johannesburg and serves as a major industrial centre in the Highveld region. Secunda is best known as the site of the world's largest coal-to-liquids facility, operated by Sasol, which converts coal into synthetic fuels and chemical products through coal gasification and Fischer-Tropsch processes. The town's economy is dominated by the petrochemical industry, with Sasol's operations employing thousands of workers and supporting a substantial service sector. Secunda was established in the 1970s specifically to house the workforce for Sasol's second synthetic fuels plant, Sasol Two, which began production in 1980, followed by Sasol Three in 1982. The town's name derives from the Latin word for "second", reflecting its status as the site of Sasol's second major facility after Sasolburg. Secunda's industrial activities have made it one of the largest point sources of air pollution in South Africa, with emissions from coal combustion and chemical processes contributing to regional air quality challenges. The town has a population of approximately 40,000 residents and features urban infrastructure including schools, hospitals, shopping centres and recreational facilities developed to support the industrial workforce. Environmental concerns related to air quality and water use have made Secunda a focal point for regulatory oversight by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. The town remains strategically significant to South Africa's energy security and chemical manufacturing sectors, though it faces ongoing pressure to reduce emissions and transition towards cleaner production methods.

Secunda News


Speakers from Enaex Africa explore how product supply, Mobile Mixing Units, safety and technology work together to deliver better blast outcomes
Enaex Africa highlights integrated approach to precision blasting
16th October 2026 By: Shannon de Ryhove

Mine blasting solutions provider Enaex Africa has highlighted the importance of integrating supply-chain reliability, mobile manufacturing units, safety controls and digital technologies to improve... 


A graph showing the share performance of Sasol
Sasol tops emerging market peers on oil-from-coal bonanza
5th October 2026 By: Bloomberg

This year’s oil price rally has produced one clear winner: South Africa’s Sasol is the top-performing emerging-market stock outside Asia and many analysts are betting its bull run has further to... 


An image of the RMG RGQ 5
Quality data key to managing  transition
2nd October 2026

As South Africa prepares for a transition from declining Mozambican natural gas to a proposed methane rich gas (MRG) bridge, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable gases potentially... 


An image of the Sasol Secunda operation
Research maps pathways to reduce Secunda’s emissions, inform transition strategy
2nd October 2026 By: Nadine Ramdass

To better understand the role of Sasol’s Secunda coal-based liquid fuels and chemicals complex, in Mpumalanga, in South Africa’s energy transition, the University of Cape Town's Energy Systems... 


An image of an oil and gas facility
Integrated provider simplifies maintenance, protection
2nd October 2026 By: Nadine Ramdass

To simplify maintenance and effectively support South Africa's largest petrochemicals company’s operations, Kaefer provides various technical industrial services, minimising risks while offering... 


Sasol's Sasolburg plant
Sasol earnings up 9% on higher oil prices, fuel sales volumes
1st September 2026 By: Reuters

South African petrochemical firm Sasol said on Tuesday its annual profit rose 9% from a year ago, buoyed by higher crude oil prices and increased fuel sales volumes.  Sasol's headline earnings per... 


Seriti Green’s Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm
Seriti unpacks big renewables ambition for coal heartland as first 155 MW wind project enters into operation
21st August 2026 By: Terence Creamer

The first 25 turbines at Seriti Green’s Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm, which is rising in the coal heartland of Mpumalanga within site of the giant Secunda coal-to-liquids complex and in close... 


Resources Watch
Resources Watch
12th August 2026

This week: Seriti unpacks big renewables ambition for coal heartland as first 155 MW wind project enters into operation; And, Considerable room to increase mining’s innovation intensity, survey finds 


A table showing operational and shuttered refining capacity in South Africa
Sasol’s wartime windfall revives debate over coal’s future
5th August 2026 By: Bloomberg

Sasol, the world’s largest producer of fuel from coal, is reaping the benefits of a surge in fuel prices due to the Iran war, while helping shield its home market of South Africa from the resulting... 



Sasol's destoning plant
Report highlights challenges, risks facing Sasol amid the just energy transition
29th May 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

As the world embraces a just energy transition, petrochemicals giant Sasol stands at a critical crossroads as one of South Africa's largest industrial employers and a key pillar of South Africa's... 


The Natref refinery in Sasolburg
Sasol upbeat on market demand for Natref’s premium SAF and renewable diesel
15th May 2026 By: Terence Creamer

Energy and chemicals group Sasol, which recently secured product-sustainability certification for jet fuel and diesel produced from used cooking oil and vegetable oils at its Natref refinery, says... 


Image of Twistdraai Thubelisha operation
Twistdraai Thubelisha coal destoning project, South Africa – update
20th March 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Sasol officially opened its new destoning plant on March 13. 


Image of coal mining trucks
Twistdraai Thubelisha coal destoning project, South Africa – update
6th March 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Sasol has reported that the plant is now producing coal with a total sinks content of about 12%. 


Multotec’s Middelburg branch adapts to coal’s evolving demands on South Africa’s highveld
Multotec’s Middelburg branch adapts to coal’s evolving demands on South Africa’s highveld
17th February 2026

As South Africa’s coal industry navigates ongoing operational and environmental challenges, there is a renewed emphasis on practical, regionally focused support models developed by companies... 


A generic image of dirty water
Decentralised treatment a critical water safeguard
16th January 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

South Africa’s water-security challenges are tightening at every link of the value chain, but engineers warn that the most overlooked threat is at the very beginning – in the form of waste... 


Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi
Sasol CEO sees chemical business potentially listing by 2028
21st November 2025 By: Bloomberg

Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi said the South African company may spin off its international chemicals business as soon as 2028, depending on how quickly profit grows. Shares of the fuel and chemicals firm... 


LASAD JAOUANI
Air Liquide VP for Industrial Direction - Africa, Middle East and India
Air Liquide supports collaboration for expanding transmission grid
26th September 2025

Accelerating the expansion and modernisation of South Africa’s national transmission grid is a critical priority and we fully support the collaborative work being driven by the Energy Council of... 


Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi
Coal destoning investment to lift Secunda volumes – Sasol
12th September 2025 By: Terence Creamer

Energy and chemicals group Sasol reports that construction of its coal destoning plant has been completed and that the facility, which should be ramped up to full production by December, is... 


Image of coal in a shovel
Twistdraai Thubelisha coal destoning project, South Africa – update
29th August 2025 By: Sheila Barradas

The facility is producing destoned coal. 


Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi
Sasol expects coal destoning investment to lift Secunda volumes
25th August 2025 By: Terence Creamer

Energy and chemicals group Sasol reports that construction of its coal destoning plant has been completed and that the facility, which should be ramped up to full production by December, is... 


1
2

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

➕

➕

➕

➕

➕

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

➕

➕

➕

➕

➕

➕

➕

➕

➕

➕

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION

➕

➕







pqt: 0.078s - ct: 0.129s - 275pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now