History

 
2000s 1990s 1980s 1970s 1960s 1950s 1940s 1930s 1920s

1990s

1999

  • Transformation in full swing. Key events: Research and Development facility sold to the CSIR; sale of Polifin holding to Sasol; ammonia supply agreement, signed with Sasol, will mean the closure of ammonia/urea production at Modderfontein and ammonia/LAN production at Milnerton; joint venture in Kynoch Fertilizer with Norsk Hydro of Norway as controlling 50 per cent partner
  • Strategy refined to three core clusters: mining solutions; specialty, fine and industrial chemicals; specialty fibres

1998

  • Sasol bids R30 per share to acquire 100 per cent of AECI Limited. The bid is withdrawn after strict conditions on the proposed transaction are set by the Competition Board
  • AECI announces a transformation strategy that will result in the formation of five business clusters (explosives; specialty and fine chemicals; specialty fibres; biotechnology; agricultural products) and the unbundling of the Kynoch group of companies

1997

  • AECI Head Office moves to The Woodlands, an AECI Pension Fund office park in Sandton
  • Kynoch Modderfontein refurbishes and upgrades ammonia and urea plants
  • Kynochem acquires Aluminium Chemicals
  • Chemical Services merges its South African water treatment interests with those of Nalco Chemical Company of the USA, to form Nalco-Chemserve

1996

  • Southgate Industrial Park development announced, at Umbogintwini
  • Group exports exceed R1 billion
  • AECI Industrial Chemicals changes its name to Kynochem
  • Some 18.3 million AECI shares, previously held by Afex Holdings, placed with domestic and international investors at R23 per share
  • Modderfontein celebrates its centenary

1995

  • ICI sells its remaining 13 per cent shareholding in AECI
  • Soda Ash Botswana liquidated and then rescued, under the name Botswana Soda Ash. Operational responsibility moves from AECI to Anglo American
  • Polifin listed on the JSE
  • First lysine produced by AECI Bioproducts, at Umbogintwini
  • AECI Explosives announces closure of explosives manufacture at Somerset West
  • Sulphur stockpile catches fire at Somerset West. Two residents from nearby Macassar die from fume inhalation

1994

  • AECI Explosives will close Bethal Factory
  • Plan announced to develop Klipfontein View, at Modderfontein, as a residential area

1993

  • AECI Explosives and Chemicals Limited focuses on explosives and becomes AECI Explosives while AECI Industrial Chemicals becomes a subsidiary of Kynoch
  • AECI Operations Services formed to offer services to companies operating on multi-user AECI sites
  • R300 million plant to manufacture lysine, at Umbogintwini, announced
  • Chlorine gas leak at Umbogintwini results in first Community Awareness and Emergency Response Committee being formed
  • AECI and Sasol agree to the formation of a joint company - Polifin. AECI owns 40 per cent, via its contribution of AECI Chlor-Alkali and Plastics
  • Formation of AECI Aroma and Fine Chemicals and construction of a plant on a new site at Richards Bay announced. The plant will make food anti-oxidant tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)
  • An asset swap sees ICI exchange 25 per cent of its share in AECI Limited for 51 per cent of AECI Explosives Limited

1992

  • Sales of surplus Modderfontein houses and stands begins
  • Retail development (Somerset Mall) launched by the AECI Pension Fund at Somerset West

1991

  • R7 million carbon dioxide plant announced for Modderfontein, with a capacity of 130 t/d
  • AECI Paints changes name to Dulux
  • Development of the AECI Pension Fund's Woodlands office park begins
  • President QKJ Masire opens new soda ash and salt project at Sua Pan, in Botswana
  • Ballengeich Factory will be sold to Karbochem

1990

  • HCFC 22 plant at Midland Factory is to be built. AECI will recover and rework CFCs
  • Goldchem, a 50:50 venture with Rand Refinery Limited, formed to make gold potassium cyanide
  • Fashiontex Coatings closes
  • Chemplex sold to the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe