MarketSpotlight: PetroSA

This month we spotlight the Petroleum, Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (Pty) Limited (PetroSA). The company owns, operates and manages South Africa’s commercial assets in the petroleum industry. PetroSA functions as a commercial non-listed entity under the South African law.

According to the company website: “PetroSA vigorously pursues exploration opportunities in South Africa and the African continent.”

 In addition, PetroSA currently operates one of the world’s largest Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) refinery. GTL technology is recognized throughout the world for producing the ‘cleanest’ fuels, through an environmentally friendly process. PetroSA considers itself a pioneer of cutting-edge GTL technology.

Current endeavours inclue the construction of a world-class crude refinery in the Eastern Cape. According to the company, the project, known as Project Mthombo, “will create the biggest refinery in Africa.”

PetroSA considers its core business as the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, as well as the participation and acquisition of both local and international upstream petroleum initiatives. The company also focuses on:

- the production of synthetic fuels, procured from offshore gas at the world’s largest commercial Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) plant;
- the marketing and trading of oil and petrochemicals; and
- the storage of crude oil on behalf of the Strategic Fuel Fund.

PetroSA produces the following commodities: leaded & unleaded petrol, kerosene (paraffin), diesel propane, liquids (oxygen/nitrogen), distillates, eco-fuels and alcohols.

Not only is the company a leader in its industry, it also prides itself on producing, according to statements, high quality and environmentally-friendly products. They are also concentrated on sustainable community development through many avenues. The company believes in Black Economic Empowerment as a business imperative:

“We must create an environment that will allow for the acceleration of the programme of Black Economic Empowerment based on a clear policy aimed at the full participation of all South Africans from disadvantaged communities. This will further the role of the energy sector as a leader in the struggle to deracialise our economy and society,” said President Thabo Mbeki in October, 2002, during an address at the launch of PetroSA.

Corporate Social Investment (CSI) is ingrained in PetroSA’s business strategies.

Corporate Social Investments (CSI)

“As a proud and patriotic South African company PetroSA has a keen interest in the improvement of the lives of its employees and the broader South African society. Over the last four years the company has invested R101 million towards corporate social responsibility projects. These investments have largely been in the areas of education and training, women empowerment and health.
 
These interventions in the three focus areas entail:

Education and Training

The flagship project of the trust is a maths, science and technology initiative that involves equipping historically disadvantaged schools with appropriate infrastructure to give pupils the opportunity to excel in these subjects.

Women Empowerment

This involves the identification of opportunities to help and empower women, especially in rural areas. PetroSA has entered into a partnership with a non-governmental organization, i.e. Training in Early Education, to train women in rural areas of Kwazulu-Natal and the Western Cape, as early childhood minders.

Health

HIV/Aids is a reality that affects all communities. PetroSA is helping efforts to fight the effects of HIV/Aids through the provision of infrastructure and health facilities in impoverished communities. These facilities play a crucial role in the treatment and care of HIV/Aids related-illnesses.

CSI Highlights

Limpopo-on-line project is the establishment of computer and science laboratories at 32 primary schools across the Limpopo Province, as well as computer and science laboratories at all five schools at KwaNonqaba in Mossel Bay.

Built a paediatric outpatient for children living with AIDS, as well as a pharmacy at St Mary’s Hospital.

Bought equipment for the Department of Geology at the University of Fort Hare.

Provided ablution facilities at 10 primary schools in the Eastern Cape to assist in the fight against Cholera.

Supported Learn-to-Earn to build a community training centre at Hermanus in Cape Town to provide skills training to the unemployed.”

petrosa.co.za

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