CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Aug. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the chemicals and materials market in the energy sector, Frost & Sullivan recognises Sasol with the 2014 African Frost & Sullivan Award for Visionary Innovation. Through its Group Technology function, Sasol's continuous search for new ways of innovation places it among the cream of South African innovators and underlines its commitment to understanding and leveraging the Mega Trend of 'Innovation to Zero'.
Companies in the energy sector are expected to increasingly become a part of the 'Innovation to Zero' movement through zero emission technologies (wind power, renewables) and full beneficiation of resources (coal, steel, platinum). Sasol, for its part, innovates around its own environmental footprint, resources capital, people, as well future business. By focusing on lower-carbon technologies, it has demonstrated a robust understanding of the concept of Innovation to Zero. The company's closest competitor, although a pioneer of a number of best practice innovation concepts, has limited its focus to sectors that support only incremental innovation.
"Central to innovation are the three principles of: innovation process, knowledge and competency, and organisational support; Sasol has a strong foundation in all three," said Frost & Sullivan Team Leader for Chemical Materials & Food, Avril Harvey. "It has comprehensive knowledge management tools in place and the main body of the organisation supports innovation as a core function."
Owing to its determination to address market requirements, Sasol's services and products have evolved to suit current needs. It has ensured a constant high standard of research facilities and systems to deliver technical opportunities and excellence as well as guarantee sustainable growth and profits. It also has a strong intellectual property (IP) portfolio, which currently boasts more than 300 active patent families.
Sasol is growing at an impressive rate, and is already in the top 10 most valuable companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It is also the world leader in coal-to-liquids (CTL) and operates the second largest commercial gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility.
"Sasol is currently building a world-scale ethane cracker and downstream derivatives units and a 96 000 barrels per day GTL facility in the US; the largest ever foreign direct investment in Louisiana," noted Harvey. "In Southern Africa, it is involved at all levels of the development of human capital through its various programs that extend from schools to advanced post graduate programmes."
Overall, Sasol's history of innovation and unceasing focus on keeping pace with market needs make it a worthy recipient of the 2014 African Frost & Sullivan Award for Visionary Innovation in the chemicals and materials market in the energy sector.
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated the understanding to leverage global Mega Trends, integrate the vision into processes to achieve strategic excellence. The award recognises the efficacy of the recipient's innovative process and the impact it has on business and society at large.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.
About Sasol
Sasol was established in 1950 in South Africa and and was a global frontrunner in developing commercial ability to convert coal to liquid fuels and chemicals (CTL). Sasol remains a large investor in South Africa and contributes significantly to skills development and technological research and development in the country. The company is listed on the JSE Limited in South Africa and on the New York Stock Exchange in the US.
Sasol is a global producer of synthetic fuels and is also involved in coal mining in South Africa; natural gas and condensate production in Mozambique, oil extraction in Gabon and exploitation of shale gas in Canada. Sasol also has a retail presence, currently only in South Africa, for liquid fuels and industrial gas and provides fuel wholesale to other countries in the region.
For over 60 years, Sasol has been developing and commercialising innovative energy-related technologies, first with coal as a feedstock, then with gas. Into the future, Sasol plans to continue to develop, along with changing market needs and expectations, moving toward the current need for energy.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.
Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.
For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?
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Contact:
Samantha James
Corporate Communications – Africa
P: +27-21-680-3574
F: +27-21-680-3296
E: samantha.james@frost.com
T: @FrostSullivanSA
http://www.frost.com
Alex Anderson
Head | Group Media Relations
P: +27-11-441-3295
F: +27-11-219-1126
E: alex.anderson@sasol.com
www.sasol.com
