European Chemical Industry News & Insights

Sasol Boosts Alumina Production Capacity

At a glance
  • The expansion increases alumina hydrate production by 15,000 tons per year.
  • New units were commissioned over the past six months, with the last unit operational in October 2017.
  • Further alumina production in Lake Charles, US, is planned for late 2019.
  • Additional expansion at Brunsbüttel is under consideration.

Expansion Overview

Sasol Chemicals’ Inorganics and Catalyst division has completed an expansion of its alumina production capacity at the Brunsbüttel site in Germany. This expansion increases the site’s alumina hydrate production by approximately 15,000 tons per year.

Technical Details

The expansion involved debottlenecking the alumina slurry feed capacity by installing an additional on-purpose alumina unit. Additionally, two new drum dryers and a new spray dryer were constructed. These new units were commissioned and started up over the past six months, with the final unit reaching beneficial operation in October 2017.

Future Plans

Sasol plans to start additional alumina production in Lake Charles, US, as part of the Lake Charles Chemical Project by the end of 2019. Further expansion of alumina capacity at the Brunsbüttel site is also being considered to meet the growing global demand for alumina products.