Natref refinery
Photo by: Creamer Media
The Competition Commission has conditionally approved a proposed transaction between Prax South Africa and the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref), whereby the former intends to acquire the latter.
Prax is ultimately controlled by a firm incorporated in England called State Oil Limited, which, in turn, is controlled by Prax Group Holdings, which is also based in England.
Prax is involved in the production, supply, storage, refining and distribution of crude oil, petroleum products and biofuels in the UK.
Natref is jointly controlled by Sasol and TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa and is also involved in the refining of petroleum feedstock to finished and unfinished petroleum and petrochemical products. It owns a 108 500 bl/d refinery in Sasolburg.
The processed products are typically handed back to Sasol and TotalEnergies. As such, Natref does not own the products or deal with customers.
The commission requires that Prax conclude a substantial transaction with historically disadvantaged persons following the merger implementation date.