Saiccor - The First 50 Years 5.8 MB - Sappi

The First Fifty Years
In addition to the improvements to fundamental pulp quality over
the period 1998 to 2001, significant progress was also made in the
manufacture of speciality pulps, namely 94 alpha, and by 2001, 96
alpha pulps largely in reels for lyocell and acetate� Progress was a
result of considerable research work to adapt Saiccor pulp to new
processes (notably Ian Graveson’s research for lyocell, and Mohamed
Mansoor’s for acetate), and improving the runnability of No 4
continua to handle these soft and difficult pulps (Peter Morris and
his teams at the Mkomazi plant made vital improvements to both
the bleach plant and the pulp machine)�
Although Saiccor was operating very well through 1996 to 1997,
the public spotlight was on effluent discharge� By September 1996
internal studies into alternative solutions to reduce effluent
visibility concluded there were only two viable options: an
extension of the effluent pipeline, and a lignosulphonate plant�
Marketing information indicated a 55 000 t/a lignosulphonate
would be feasible� Eugene van As made a presentation to Minister
Kader Asmal on 19 November 1996 in Cape Town, proposing
Saiccor conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for
an extension of the effluent pipeline from 3 to 7,5 km, and the
building of a 55 000 t/a lignosulphonate plant (approximately 10
per cent of the solids in the effluent)� The Minister accepted the
proposal but wanted an answer from Saiccor by the end of
June 1997�
Area map showing proposed extension of the effluent pipeline (red)
170