During the 2024 shutdown at Sasol Synfuels, Aurex Constructors played a critical role in executing high-quality mechanical services across 3 essential units: Carbo Tar, Coal Tar Filtration (CTF), and Methanol Purification and Integration (MPI)). These units form an integral part of Sasol’s coal-to-liquid (CTL) and gas processing infrastructure, handling tar refining, coal-derived fuel purification, and methanol recovery.
As a trusted Shutdown contractor, Aurex ensured minimal disruption, technical excellence, and strict compliance with Sasol’s rigorous safety and operational standards.
- Carbo Tar: Focused on pressure vessel and static equipment inspections, ensuring continued efficiency in coal-derived tar processing and refining. Given the high-temperature and high-pressure conditions within this unit, maintenance interventions were critical to prevent operational failures and uphold environmental and safety regulations.
- Coal Tar Filtration (CTF): Essential for removing impurities from coal-derived liquids, ensuring the production of high-quality fuel and chemical feedstocks. Shutdown operations focused on hydraulic torquing, pressure testing, and filtration system optimisation to enhance purification efficiency and maintain compliance with emissions regulations.
- Methanol Purification and Integration (MPI): A key processing unit responsible for methanol recovery and purification, critical in Sasol’s synthetic fuel production. Maintenance efforts included tower tray repairs, pressure vessel inspections, and static equipment integrity verification to sustain safe handling and efficient methanol production.
With 75 work packs delivered, the shutdown required precision planning, real-time adaptability, and seamless execution within Sasol’s processing framework. Welding was excluded from the scope, highlighting the need for disciplined coordination and mechanical execution without high-temperature.
Executed on schedule and with minimal operational disruption, the shutdown directly contributed to safe plant operations,regulatory compliance, and extended equipment longevity. Aurex’s ability to navigate highly specialised refinery shutdowns under intense operational conditions reaffirmed its reputation as a leading partner in critical industrial maintenance.
By ensuring the continued efficiency of Carbo Tar, CTF, and MPI units, Aurex helped Sasol maintain high-performance refining capabilities, environmental compliance, and uninterrupted production, reinforcing the long-term reliability of South Africa’s synthetic fuels infrastructure.