The objective of the research was to determine the role which South African trade policy played in shaping the development of the domestic petrochemical industry. The focus of the study falls on the domestic development of the petrochemical industry in general, and the polymer industry in particular. Three broad stages are distinguished in the domestic development of the petrochemical industry. Prior to the early 1970's development occurred primarily on an ad hoc basis, with the establishment of domestic production plants for most major petrochemicals. The development of the domestic petrochemical industry over the period from the early 1970's to the early 1980's was characterised by rapid growth in the domestic production of petrochemicals, while the period from the early 1980's to the early 1990's saw a significant slowdown in the annual growth rate for the domestic production of petrochemicals. The role of trade policy in the industry's development over each of these three periods could not be established conclusively. In each period a number of factors were identified which may have impacted on the industry's development. However, two factors do appear to have played particularly important roles in the industry's development prior to the early 1980's, namely strong growth in domestic petrochemical demand and the provision of a substantial degree of protection through quantitative import controls and tariffs. with regard to the industry's development over the period from the early 1980's to the early 1990's, a number of factors were identified which may have influenced trends in domestic petrochemical production, including the withdrawal of quantitative import controls and the progressive lowering of import tariffs, the depreciation of the rand in the mid-1980's, a slowdown in the growth of the domestic demand for petrochemicals, the fall in the international prices of petrochemicals in the early 1980's, and the fall in the international oil price in the mid-1980's. In view of the small size of the domestic petrochemical market it is recommended that local petrochemical producers should continue to expand their focus beyond that of producing solely for the requirements of the domestic market. In light of the key role played by the petrochemical industry in a modern economy, it is also recommended that the industry in South Africa receive more attention from policy makers than it has in the past.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chemistry) -Dept. of Chemistry, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 xxiv, 349 leaves : ill. ; 31 cm / The primary objective of this study was to determine the levels of liquid hydrocarbon contamination present in the soil within the SAPREF refinery. The secondary objective arising from this was the development of a gas chromatographic (GC) method using a fifty metre PONA (Paraffin, Olefin, Naphthalene and Aromatic) capillary column and the split injection technique, for the analysis. Toluene was the solvent selected, with the Standard method for the BÜCHI extraction system, to extract the hydrocarbons present in the soil samples taken at the five different tank farm sites in the refinery. The main purpose of the analysis and evaluation was to enable the refinery to establish environmental control measures to reduce the contamination of the soil in the area.

No description available.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chemistry) -Dept. of Chemistry, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 xxiv, 349 leaves : ill. ; 31 cm / The primary objective of this study was to determine the levels of liquid hydrocarbon contamination present in the soil within the SAPREF refinery. The secondary objective arising from this was the development of a gas chromatographic (GC) method using a fifty metre PONA (Paraffin, Olefin, Naphthalene and Aromatic) capillary column and the split injection technique, for the analysis. Toluene was the solvent selected, with the Standard method for the BÜCHI extraction system, to extract the hydrocarbons present in the soil samples taken at the five different tank farm sites in the refinery. The main purpose of the analysis and evaluation was to enable the refinery to establish environmental control measures to reduce the contamination of the soil in the area.

Thesis (M.Eng.(Control Engineering)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references.

M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering) / Considering the high cost of maintenance, effective maintenance management have the potential to contribute to the profit of a petrochemical business. The complexity of the maintenance domain in the petrochemical business demands the use of information systems for the management of maintenance. The availability of correct, easily interpretable information about maintenance can therefore contribute to the profit of a petrochemical business. Management decisions are based on available information. The quality (accuracy and timeliness) of the information create more room for creative decisions in the maintenance department. A computerized information management system is a tool employed in the optimization of maintenance cost and a requirement for world class maintenance. This system depends on information of a high quality. It should be kept in mind that this systems is an aid to maintenance management and would never be able to replace the maintenance manager. The role played by high quality information in the success of a computerized maintenance management system point towards the importance of the personnel that maintain the system and those that provide input to the system. These personnel need to be highlytrained and should have the most recent technology available. Continuing development of the computerized maintenance management system within a company is necessary for the system to succeed.

Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

This is a qualitative study that seeks to explore the workers’ perceptions towards the occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) system at the petrochemical industrial plant Sasol Infrachem in Sasolburg. It provides a platform for shop floor workers to express their subjective perceptions of the company’s OSHA measures by answering open ended questions. The study advances the notion that notwithstanding the safety managers’ efforts towards ensuring a safety regime in the workplace, however lucrative these might be, to really ensure a safe working environment in the workplace will always depend on the individual workers’ motivation to participate safely at work at any given time to ensure his/her safety and that of others. The study explores this subject by considering how they perceive these safety strategies, their vigilance, attitudes, their ownership of these and their inclination to comply with the occupational safety and health administration measures of Sasol. This study follows a Postmodernist theoretical framework emphasizing differences. Difference is a first and foremost identity feature of human beings. This goes for both their external and internal qualities. How workers perceive and relate to safety concepts will always be shaped by the differences among them. The study also makes use of the Environmental Justice Theory as a central theme, that holds that one life lost is one too many. At the forefront of industries are shop floor workers who are most vulnerable to workplace incident.The study assumes this premise with regard to their safety and health in the workplace

Individuals with different personal demographics and job-based factors have different attitudes and behaviors, which can influence their levels of commitment to their organizations. These differences in organizational commitment increase as their cultural backgrounds differ significantly. Personal demographics and job-related factors are reliable predictors of employees' commitment to their employing organizations. The purpose of this study was to empirically investigate if there is a difference in the level of employees' commitment to Saudi petrochemical companies on the basis of differences in their personal demographics and job-related factors.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. Johannesburg, 1997. / Faced with the potential threat of oil embargoes imposed by producer countries for political reasons, the consumer countries reacted by creating different alternatives which granted them some energy independence and security of supply by using alternative products and technologies available in their own countrles, Can a middle level developing country break out of the cycle of dependency in the area of energy? This dissertation investigates the strategy developed and implemented by South Africa between 1973 and 1993, which invested heavily in the generation of fuel extracted from coal in order to rescue its country from crisis and support it through critical periods of history. / AC2017