Fluorchemicals SA plans a new plant in the Eastern Cape

Fluorchemicals SA is aiming to put up a 100ktpy fluorochemicals plant in the Coega Industrial Development Zone, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The project consists of two phases: Phase 1 will be a 60ktpy AHF plant to be completed by 2028, and Phase 2 will add an additional 40ktpy of capacity by 2030/31. High purity acidspar feedstock will be sourced mainly from the North West province to produce the AHF. Investment in the project is estimated at ZAR5Bn (US$266M) and could potentially create over 300 direct, over 2,100 indirect jobs during operations and more than 3,000 jobs during construction.

The plant will produce high purity (AHF), elemental and fluorine mixtures (F₂), lithium salts including lithiumfluorosulfonylimide (LiFSI), polymers including polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFEs), and refrigerant chemicals including hydrofluoro-olefins (HFO). Fluorine-based electrolytes have an important role to play in the lithium-ion battery industry, and producing these fluorochemicals would enable part of the domestic supply chain of the materials required in South Africa for the battery industry. However, currently it is envisaged that 90% of the materials produced by the plant will be exported globally.

The plants will enable South Africa to become a significant player in global fluorochemicals markets.