Sasol Chemical’s gas conversion project is progressing, with a new five-year, USD 650,000 process automation contract awarded to Emerson Process Management (Emerson) on 31 October. Under the contract, Emerson will supply its PlantWeb digital plant architecture and DeltaV digital automation system. Emerson and its South African representative, Alpret Control Specialists, will provide control and automation technology for two reformer trains being designed and constructed under licence by Fluor Daniel at Sasol Chemical’s gas conversion project in Sasolburg. Reformer trains are part of the processing technology used to convert natural gas to reformed gas. The gas conversion project is part of an initiative recently launched by Sasol to build a 538-mile pipeline from Mozambique and supply reformed natural gas to the industrial heart of South Africa, replacing coal-based synthesised gas. Sasol Technology Ltd (Sastech) is managing the gas conversion project. The processes are safety critical, and provide gas feedstock for major downstream processing plants, including Sasol plants for the production of ammonia, waxes and n-Butanol. Emerson and Alpret will provide engineering services, including project management of the process automation solution, plus hardware and operator display design and configuration.