The 10th Sasol Advanced Sythol (SAS) Reactor has arrived on South African shores and is making its way to Secunda in Mpumalanga. The vessel consisting of two large sections is one of the single largest abnormal loads to be transported on South African roads.

 
The dimensions of the two loads are huge. The bottom section is 21m in length, 9m in width and 9m in height, while the vessel's top section is 18m in length 8m wide and 9m in height.
 
The trademarked SAS reactor is at the heart of a Sasol developed production process using high temperatures to produce a synthetic form of crude oil and chemical feedstock. This oil is then refined to make gasoline, diesel and other by-products.
 
This reactor is a critical component in the expansion of Sasol's Secunda fuel production operations. The Secunda Growth programme comprises a number of projects to enable Sasol Synfuels to grow its fuel producing capacity by importing additional natural gas and increasing the plant's capacity to process greater quantities of feedstock for various products.
 
The Secunda Growth programme is of national importance to South Africa to enable an increase in the country's fuel production reducing its reliance on fuel imports, support the government's strategy to increase beneficiation of local resources, and contribute to job creation.
 
The SAS reactor was manufactured in Japan and was shipped to South Africa on a special heavy-lift ship equipped with derricks to load and discharge the two sections of machinery. The two loads are being transported on trailers from France. The trailers were imported as there are no suitable trailers, within South Africa, that can accommodate the 428 ton bottom section. The specially designed trailer was modified and assembled in Richards Bay prior to the arrival of the load. Once the loads reach Secunda the trailer will be returned to France. The top section of the reactor weighs 246 tons for a combined weight of almost 700 tons. Each section requires between 3 and 5 horses to pull the load.
 
Due to its size and specialised nature, it was not possible for the unit to be manufactured locally, or shipped in smaller sized components. The manufacturing of the reactor is subject to strict international standards, manufacturing procedures and specifications. The local heavy engineering and manufacturing sector is currently not geared to meet all the detailed requirements for manufacturing a reactor of this magnitude.
 
Extreme pressures, temperatures and chemical reactions generated inside the reactor during the conversion process require that the reactor be manufactured using specialised steel.
 
It will take the convoy 2 weeks to make the trip from Richards Bay to Secunda travelling approximately 50 kilometres per day. The vehicles travel at between 10 and 20 kilometres per hour. The wheels of the vehicles required to transport these loads track 6,6 m wide on the road and will require at least 7,5 m suitably paved road width to safely pass. The bottom section alone has 384 wheels. The width of the load will require clearance of obstacles above the road level of 9,5 m wide, meaning that two lanes will be required for the load to pass. To minimise disruption and inconvenience to other road users the vehicles will travel 5 to 10 kilometres and pull over to allow other traffic to pass.
 
Logistics around the transport of such a large load via road are complex and engagement with road authorities and transport departments is critical. Authorities affected by the convoy have been most supportive in working with Sasol to agree the route for the abnormal load. Roads must be wide enough, bridge structures require additional support and road construction along the route must be avoided. The route includes a detour through Swaziland due to road works in progress on the N2/N17 route. The almost three-storey height of the load has meant that along the route power and telephone lines overhead have to be raised and returned after the load has passed.
 
Sasol is engaging local authorities and local media along the course of the route to alert people to the activities and minimise impact on communities. "We would like to thank those people along the route, both authorities and communities, for their understanding as we make this important journey," said Sasol Technology managing director, Willem Louw. "While we are working to reduce any delays, this is a very large load and we apologise for any inconvenience the transportation of these critical components many cause," he said.
 
The loads departed Richards Bay harbour on 20 July and are expected to reach Secunda in the second week of August.
 
Ends.
 
Photographs