Sasol Chemicals Is Doing Good Things in Southwest Louisiana
Sasol is a good company, with good people, doing good things.
Sponsored by: Sasol Chemicals
Anyone who has driven over the Interstate 10 bridge westbound in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is familiar with the vast industrial presence that the region boasts.
At dusk, the glow of the manufacturing facilities meets the gray blue of the sky — a sight that many would describe as quite beautiful.
But behind the stacks and steam is something far more awe-inspiring. Sasol’s Lake Charles Chemical Complex, a 1,100-acre manufacturing facility that supports thousands of employees and contractors, is home to one of the largest and most prolific specialty chemical plants in the world.
It’s here where 2.6 million metric tons of products are produced each year that are used for everything from laundry detergent to metalworking fluids and lubricants. It’s here that Sasol’s employees are empowered and encouraged to develop themselves and the business. And it’s here that the company is leading the way to a greener and more sustainable future.
In 2014, Sasol announced the final investment decision for what would become an almost $13 billion mega project near Westlake, Louisiana. The world-scale petrochemicals complex was completed in 2020 and has made good on the promise to strengthen the company’s position in a growing global chemicals market. But that success was hard-fought and not achieved without adversity.
“Great success stories aren’t built overnight,” says Sasol Chemicals America Senior Vice President Eric Stouder. “They can test us, but also bring out the best in an organization. I’m proud of our accomplishments and proud of our employees for bringing us to the next phase.”
That next phase is what Sasol refers to as the “Sustainability Hub.” With 1,000 acres left to develop at the Lake Charles site and new investments in technology, the company is well-positioned to answer the sustainability call — both by reducing its own operational environmental footprint and through the products that are produced.
“We’re changing in a multitude of ways to operate more efficiently here in Lake Charles, and also to deliver innovative products that support sustainability for our customers,” Stouder says. “For example, our new generation of surfactants enables manufacturers to make detergents that work well in low-temperature water, which ultimately reduces energy usage and related emissions.”
And to embrace both the company’s sustainability ambitions and innovative spirit, Sasol recently became the first company in the chemicals manufacturing sector to introduce emissions.AI, which was originally designed for complex oil and gas facilities. The new technology will measure and monitor energy usage and emissions to identify opportunities to reduce CO₂ emissions and improve energy efficiency.
Sasol is also committed to supporting the Southwest Louisiana community with a focus on education, workforce development, environmental stewardship and quality of life. For example, the company distributed $900,000 in company directed charitable contributions in 2022, along with $60,000 in employee directed charitable contributions.
Sasol also recently announced a $1 million nameplate sponsorship of the Port Wonder STEM Children’s Museum in Lake Charles, a collaboration with the City of Lake Charles and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
“We are proud to call Lake Charles home,” Stouder adds. “We’re always striving to make our community the best possible place to live and work.”
To learn more about Sasol, go to sasol.com.
