Easigas, one of South Africa's largest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) suppliers, has been awarded a five-year, R60 million contract to supply LPG to the new Anglo Platinum Converting Process (ACP) plant at the Waterval smelter in Rustenburg.

The R1.6 billion plant was established to prevent sulphur dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere by converting them into sulphuric acid, hence the interest in a clean-burning gas.

Easigas had to battle for the tender with numerous rivals, who all proposed the use of a different energy source. Liquid fuels, illuminating paraffin and fuel oil were all suggested while hopeful companies contested the tender.

LPG offers total and clean combustion with few toxic emissions. Pressure allows it to flow through pipelines without having to be pumped, which is the case with competitive liquid fuels.

It is used to support metallurgical process at the Waterval smelter. There, the gas is piped to several locations within the plant for a variety of heating uses.