25 June 2004
	SA's Top 20 Companies 15 SASOL Total score: 54,4 Historic score: 32 FM's score: 69

By its own high standards, the past year probably rates as a miserable one for the petrochemical giant. In financial 2003/2004 the stronger rand cost it about R3,4bn, margins in the chemicals business were languishing and the company received a slap on the wrist from government for calling black economic empowerment an investment risk. But it is still a tightly run organisation, with a treasure chest of products derived from its synthetic fuel business. Multibillion-rand investments, such as its Mozambique gas project and its Qatar gas-to-liquid plant, are coming on stream and are set to pay off in the years ahead. The stronger rand is out of Sasol's system and the high oil price should benefit its fuel division.