Secunda
Secunda is a town in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, situated in the Gert Sibande District Municipality. The town lies approximately 130 km east of Johannesburg and serves as a major industrial centre in the Highveld region. Secunda is best known as the site of the world's largest coal-to-liquids facility, operated by Sasol, which converts coal into synthetic fuels and chemical products through coal gasification and Fischer-Tropsch processes. The town's economy is dominated by the petrochemical industry, with Sasol's operations employing thousands of workers and supporting a substantial service sector. Secunda was established in the 1970s specifically to house the workforce for Sasol's second synthetic fuels plant, Sasol Two, which began production in 1980, followed by Sasol Three in 1982. The town's name derives from the Latin word for "second", reflecting its status as the site of Sasol's second major facility after Sasolburg. Secunda's industrial activities have made it one of the largest point sources of air pollution in South Africa, with emissions from coal combustion and chemical processes contributing to regional air quality challenges. The town has a population of approximately 40,000 residents and features urban infrastructure including schools, hospitals, shopping centres and recreational facilities developed to support the industrial workforce. Environmental concerns related to air quality and water use have made Secunda a focal point for regulatory oversight by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. The town remains strategically significant to South Africa's energy security and chemical manufacturing sectors, though it faces ongoing pressure to reduce emissions and transition towards cleaner production methods.
Secunda Updates
Committee chairperson welcomes the official launch of Lenacapavir rollout
8th June 2026 The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Ms Faith Muthambi, has welcomed the national rollout of Lenacapavir and commended the... →
S Africa launches ‘historic’ HIV prevention injection Lenacapavir 
By: Thabi Shomolekae 5th June 2026 Describing it as an “historic turning point in South Africa’s national healthcare”, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday officially launched the... →
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