Sasol Signs Exploration Right Permit to Explore for Hydrocarbons in Durban and Zululand Basins, Offshore KwaZulu-Natal

Johannesburg, South Africa (ots/PRNewswire) -

Sasol, through its upstream oil and gas subsidiary, Sasol
Petroleum International, today signed an Exploration Right permit to
explore for hydrocarbons on the East Coast (Durban and Zululand
basins), offshore Kwazulu-Natal province, with the Petroleum Agency
South Africa (PASA).

The Exploration Right permit was granted by PASA for an initial
period of three years.

The Durban and Zululand basins are of interest because they sit at
the southern end of the Mozambique Channel. Significant discoveries
have recently been made in the north of Mozambique, most notably in
the Rovuma basin.

"This is Sasol's first operated Exploration Right licence in South
Africa for at least a decade," said Ebbie Haan, Managing Director at
Sasol Petroleum International.

He added that Sasol will ensure that a robust public consultation
programme is implemented during the assessment phase and that
stakeholders' concerns will be addressed. Sasol already has an
exemplary track record in conducting exploration of this nature.
Offshore Mozambique, Sasol has conducted three separate seismic
surveys and drilled three wells with no negative impacts on marine
mammals, including the endangered dugong, whilst maintaining good
relationships with artisanal and commercial fisheries, as well as the
tourism and conservation sectors.

In 2011, Sasol was granted a Technical Cooperation Permit (TCP
032) to study and investigate the potential for hydrocarbons, in an
area covering 83 000km[2].

The granting of the Exploration Right (SPI: 100% interest) permit
follows the submission of a work programme in September 2012,
followed by a high-level Environmental Impact Assessment and
Environmental Management Plan completed in February this year.

Sasol has already completed 4 000 kilometres of a 2D seismic
survey in terms of a programme covering an area of 5 950 km. The
remainder will be acquired in 2014, following which the results will
be analysed and interpreted.

About Sasol:

Committed to excellence in all we do, Sasol is an international
integrated energy and chemical company that leverages the talent and
expertise of our more than 35 000 people working in 37 countries. We
develop and commercialise technologies, and build and operate
world-scale facilities to produce a range of product streams,
including liquid fuels, high-value chemicals and low-carbon
electricity.

While remaining committed to our home-base of South Africa, Sasol
is expanding internationally based on a unique value proposition.

About Sasol Petroleum International

Sasol Petroleum International develops and manages the group's
upstream interests in oil and gas exploration and production in
Mozambique, South Africa, Canada, Gabon, Papua New Guinea, Botswana,
Australia and Nigeria.

SPI is driving the development of Sasol's upstream business to
allow the group to meet its strategic objective of accelerating the
growth of its proprietary gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology. In recent
years we have taken a number of steps to expand our global upstream
portfolio, encouraged by the global abundance of natural gas and the
rapid development of the shale gas industry, as well as the lower
carbon intensity of natural gas. We are investing in ventures ranging
from onshore and offshore conventional and unconventional shale and
tight gas and coal-bed methane.

Issued by:

Alex Anderson, Group Media Manager
Direct telephone +27(11)441-3295; Mobile +27(0)71-600-9605;
alex.anderson@sasol.com

Jacqui O'Sullivan, GM: Group Communication
Direct telephone +27(11)441-3252; Mobile +27(0)82-883-9697;
jacqui.osullivan@sasol.com

ots Originaltext: Sasol
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