By: Marketing screener

Sasol reported a slight fall in first-half mining production but a rise in natural gas output as it backed its full-year guidance for both divisions.

The South African chemicals-and-energy group said the six months ended Dec. 31 were impacted by civil unrest in Mozambique, which caused a 3% sequential fall in second-quarter production.

“The civil unrest in Mozambique affected the Central Processing Facility (CPF), leading to reduced production rates in December 2024. The situation at the CPF has improved and the unit is now operating at full capacity, albeit with heightened near-term risk still prevalent,” Sasol reports.

The business was also impacted by at fire at its Natref refinery.

First-half mining saleable production fell 1% to 15 million metric tons compared with the same period a year prior.

Natural gas production was 2% higher than a year prior despite the unrest in Mozambique at 61.6 billion square cubic feet.

In its fuels unit, production volumes from its Secunda Operations fell 5% to 3.34 million tons. Total chemicals sales volumes fell 6% to 2.98 million tons, while revenue rose 1% to $3.82 billion, due to an 8% increase in average sales basket price.

The company backed its full-year guidance for its mining and gas divisions. Within its fuels division, the company revised downward its volume guidance for Secunda Operations and Natref production. As a result, overall fuels sales volumes are expected to be largely in line with fiscal 2024 results.