SASOL 40th Anniversary

South Africa, Sasolburg · 1990-09-20

Unofficial

Click any photo to see it enlarged, and step through the rest.

front

info card

Cachet: Refinery.

Info card

Here's the extracted text from the two insert cards, followed by an overview paragraph about the FDC (Image 1). ## Image 2 — Afrikaans **SASOL 1950 — 1990** **1950** Sasol word gestig om olie-uit-steenkool te vervaardig. Aandelekapitaal is deur die Nywerheidontwikkelingskorporasie voorsien. **1951** Skagrawery by die Sigma Steenkoolmyn en beplanning van die fabriek en dorp begin. **1955** Die eerste sintesereaktor word in bedryf gestel. Teen die einde van die jaar maak motoriste met die eerste bloupomppetrol vol. **1964** Butadieen en stireen vir die vervaardiging van kunsrubber word geproduseer. Ammoniak word sinteties vervaardig vir die grootskaalse produksie van stikstofhoudende kunsmis. **1965** Die eerste van twee nafta-krakers word in bedryf gestel om etileen, 'n belangrike grondstof in die petrochemiese nywerheid, te produseer. 'n Pyplyn van 175km word voltooi om brandgas na nywerhede in Suid-Transvaal te voer. **1971** Natref, die ru-olie raffinadery op Sasolburg, word in vennootskap met Total en die Nasionale Iranese Oliemaatskappy in bedryf gestel. Ru-olie word per pypleiding vanaf die kus gepomp. **1974** Stygende ru-oliepryse versnel Sasol se ontwikkelingsprogram. Die fabriek op Sasolburg se gasproduksie word met 50% verhoog en die oprigting van Sasol Twee op Secunda word aangekondig. **1976** Konstruksie van Sasol Twee begin. Dit was die grootste projek van sy soort ter wêreld. **1979** Die voorsiening van ru-olie aan Suid-Afrika word weens die onttroning van die Sjah van Iran gestaak en dit lei tot die aankondiging van Sasol Drie. Vier steenkoolmyne nl. Twistdraai, Middelbult, Brandspruit en Bosjesspruit voorsien steenkool aan die twee aanlegte. Sasol Beperk as houermaatskappy van die Sasol Groep kom tot stand en aandele word op die Johannesburg Effektebeurs genoteer. **1982** Sasol verskuif sy korporatiewe hoofkantoor na Johannesburg. **1983** Sasol betree die kunsmismark ten volle. **1986** Die eerste mynbouspringstowwe word vervaardig en bemark. **1988** Konstruksiewerk aan 'n propileen- en 'n polipropileenaanleg op Secunda begin. **1989** 'n Europese divisie word gestig om Sasol se belange in Europa te bevorder. **1990** Propileen- en polipropileenaanlegte word in bedryf gestel. Sasol is die wêreldleier op die gebied van olie en gas uit steenkool. Die maatskappy is op die voorpunt van die Suid-Afrikaanse steenkoolchemiese en ru-oliebedryf. As privaatsektoronderneming is die maatskappy trots op sy bydrae tot die welvaart van Suid-Afrika. Sasol lewer vandag 'n aansienlike bydrae om Suid-Afrika se inheemse grondstowwe so doeltreffend moontlik tot voordeel van sy inwoners te benut, werksgeleenthede te skep en buitelandse valuta te bespaar. ## Image 3 — English **SASOL 1950 — 1990** **1950** Sasol is founded to manufacture oil from coal. Share capital is provided by the Industrial Development Corporation. **1951** Shaft-sinking at the Sigma Colliery and planning of the factory and town begins. **1955** The first synthesis reactor is commissioned. By the end of the year motorists fill up with the first blue pump petrol. **1964** Butadiene and styrene for the manufacture of synthetic rubber is produced. Ammonia is manufactured synthetically for the large-scale production of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. **1965** The first of two naphtha crackers is commissioned to produce ethylene, an important feedstock in the petrochemical industry. A 175km pipeline to carry fuel gas to industries in the Southern Transvaal is completed. **1971** Natref, the crude oil refinery in Sasolburg, is commissioned in partnership with Total and the National Iranian Oil Company. Crude oil is pumped from the coast by pipeline. **1974** Rising crude oil prices accelerate Sasol's development programme. Gas production at the factory in Sasolburg is increased by 50% and the establishment of Sasol Two at Secunda is announced. **1976** Construction of Sasol Two begins. It was the largest project of its kind in the world. **1979** The supply of crude oil to South Africa ceases due to the deposing of the Shah of Iran and this leads to the announcement of Sasol Three. Four coal mines, namely Twistdraai, Middelbult, Brandspruit and Bosjesspruit supply coal to the two plants. Sasol Limited as holding company of the Sasol Group comes into being and shares are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. **1982** Sasol moves its corporate head-office to Johannesburg. **1983** Sasol enters the fertilizer market fully. **1986** The first mining explosives are manufactured and marketed. **1988** Construction work begins on a propylene and a polypropylene plant in Secunda. **1989** A European division is established to promote Sasol's interests in Europe. **1990** The propylene and polypropylene plants are commissioned. Sasol is the world leader in the field of oil and gas from coal. The company is in the forefront of the South African coal, chemical and crude oil industry. As a private sector enterprise the company is proud of its contribution to the prosperity of South Africa. Today Sasol makes a considerable contribution towards using South Africa's own raw materials as effectively as possible for the benefit of its inhabitants, to create work opportunities and to save foreign exchange.

Additional information

Commemorates the **40th anniversary of Sasol (1950–1990)**, South Africa's synthetic fuels and petrochemicals company. It bears a single **30c stamp**, illustrated by Herr Bolm, depicting a Sasol refinery under the caption "Olie uit Steenkool" ("Oil from Coal") - part of design series D24 from 1989. The cover was cancelled at **Sasolburg (postal code 9570) on 20 September 1990, appropriately at the town most closely associated with Sasol's founding and operations. Unlike the standard Post Office FDCs, this is a corporate commemorative cover produced by or for Sasol itself, marking its four decades of operation, with a striking photographic image of the Sasolburg refinery's pipes and towers dominating the left half of the cover beneath the bold "1950 / 1990" anniversary dates and the Sasol logo.

Theme: Science & Technology

Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.

Addressed: No

Signed: No

Stamp denomination: R0.3 (ZAR)

Estimated value: ~US$0.1

This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.