European market. Our Sasol Olefins and Surfactants business delivered improved operating results and benefited from low feedstock prices in the US. Sasol
Polymers is returning to profitability mainly as a result of the commissioning of our Ethylene Purification Unit 5 (EPU5) during the year, coupled with the
effect of our business turnaround plan.
Normalised cash fixed costs increased by only 5,5%, 1,8% below the South African producers’ price index (SA PPI) of 7,3% for the year. This was achieved
despite a challenging South African cost environment in respect of labour, maintenance and electricity costs. A key area of management focus is our
business performance enhancement programme, where we have made significant progress in reducing the cost base sustainably. The programme realised
actual benefits of R469 million for the financial year, R700 million on an annualised basis.
The change in the effective tax rate from 31,7% to 32,6% resulted primarily from the impact of the Canada impairment, the reduction of the Wax fine
imposed by the European Commission in 2009, as well as the Polymers fine incurred during the financial year.
Cash flow generated from operations increased by 26% to R65,5 billion compared with R51,9 billion in the prior year. This includes an increase in working
capital of R2,1 billion, mainly as a result of price effects due to higher commodity prices and the weaker exchange rate. Capital spend for the year amounted
to R39,5 billion.
Taking into account the ongoing strength of our financial position, current capital investment plans, as well as our progressive dividend policy, the Sasol
board of directors has declared a record final dividend of R13,50 per share. This approach remains in line with our commitment to consistently return
sustainable value to shareholders.
Acting Chief Financial Officer, Paul Victor says:
"These outstanding final results are due to an excellent underlying operational performance, coupled with a continued focus on cost control. Despite the
impact of increased non-cash charges, we continue to deliver growth in earnings. Our cash flow generation remains robust, which together with our
under-geared balance sheet, allows us to increase dividends in line with our progressive dividend policy. At the same time we are able to invest in new
growth projects in Southern Africa and North America. As this new era for Sasol evolves, we are well placed to continue delivering value to our
shareholders."
Business performance enhancement programme delivering results
We continue to implement our group-wide business performance enhancement programme, to restructure and reposition Sasol for a new era.
The process of designing and filling our new senior leadership structures has been completed. This process has resulted in almost 200 voluntary separations
and early retirements having been agreed by the end of 2014. Our new operating model, organised along the value chain was rolled out on 1 July 2014. We are
making steady progress with the implementation of the related legal and corporate structures, including more effective and efficient decision-making and
governance frameworks and enterprise resource planning systems.
We are confident that the programme will deliver sustainable cost savings, compared to a 2013 base, of at least R4 billion per year from 2016 onwards, and
that our cash fixed costs will follow SA PPI thereafter. Implementation costs for the programme amounted to R1,3 billion during 2014, and are expected to
increase to approximately R2,1 billion for 2015. Actual cost savings achieved during 2014 amounted to R469 million (R700 million annualised), as a result of
voluntary employee severances and reduced external spend. We expect cost savings of approximately R1,5 billion for 2015 (R2,2 billion annualised).
As we implement this group-wide programme, we are maintaining a key focus on safety, compliance and operational stability to allow us to continue to
deliver on our operational and financial performance targets.
Advancing projects to enable future growth
We are encouraged by the headway we are making in delivering on our project pipeline:
- Focusing on our foundation businesses:
- The R14,2 billion Sasol Synfuels growth programme is nearing completion, with beneficial operation expected to be reached in December 2014. This will
allow additional natural gas to be fed into the facility, enabling higher volumes of fuels and chemical feedstock to be produced, as well as increased
electricity generation. Many of the benefits are already evidenced by the increased production performance.
- The development of the Impumelelo and Shondoni collieries, which are part of Sasol Mining’s R14 billion mine replacement programme, continue to
progress steadily. Despite some schedule delays being experienced, we still expect Impumelelo and Shondoni collieries to reach beneficial operation during
mid and late calendar year 2015 respectively, within budget.
- The expansion of our FT wax facility in Sasolburg is progressing well with the commissioning of the new slurry bed reactor, which is critically important
for the capacity expansion, expected to take place during the fourth quarter of the 2014 calendar year. Commissioning of phase 2 of the project is on track to
take place during the second half of the 2016 calendar year. The total project cost for both phases remains unchanged at R13,6 billion.
- Our R1,3 billion C3 stabilisation project, which will improve the extraction of propylene to produce higher-value chemicals, achieved beneficial operation
during June 2014. The project was completed on time and within budget.
- We continued to advance the development of our 49% share of the US$246 million 175 megawatt gas-fired power generation plant in Mozambique, in
partnership with the country’s state-owned power utility, Electricidade de Moçambique at Ressano Garcia (EDM). All 18 gas engines are already on site and
construction activities are well advanced with pre-commissioning activities underway. Beneficial operation and ramp up to full capacity is planned for the
second half of the 2014 calendar year. The project is expected to be on schedule and within budget.
- The construction of a R2 billion loopline on the Mozambique to Secunda gas pipeline is progressing well. Beneficial operation is expected during the
second half of the 2014 calendar year, and the project is expected to be completed within budget.
- Looking at our growth projects:
- On 7 August 2014, Sasol and INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA successfully concluded a toll manufacturing joint venture, Gemini HDPE LLC. Construction of
the 470 kilotons per annum high density polyethylene plant has now commenced. Plant start-up is expected towards the end of the 2016 calendar year.
- The front-end engineering and design (FEED) work for our world-scale chemical complex in Westlake, Louisiana is nearing completion. The economics of