Sasolburg is a town located in the Free State province of South Africa. It is situated about halfway between Johannesburg and Bloemfontein.
The history of Sasolburg can be traced back to the 1950s, when the South African government began to promote the development of heavy industry in the country. As part of this initiative, the government built a large synthetic oil and gas production facility in Sasolburg, which was completed in 1955. This facility was operated by Sasol, a South African energy company that still has a significant presence in the town today.
Sasolburg was officially founded in 1954, and it was built to house the employees of the Sasol facility, along with other industries and businesses that developed in the area as a result of the oil production. It is unique as it was built from scratch as a company town around the Sasol facility and later on developed into a self-sustaining town, making it rare in South Africa.
The population of Sasolburg is around 100,000 as per 2021 estimates, and it is a diverse community, with people from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds living there.
The places of interest in Sasolburg include the Sasol Synthetic Fuel Plant, the Kromme River Dam, the Kromme Heritage trail, and the Van Vuuren Family Market Garden, which is a popular destination for those interested in local agriculture and produce.
Sasolburg is known for being the home of the Sasol Synthetic Fuel Plant, which is one of the largest oil and gas production facilities in the world. It is also known as the town that was built around the facility and the economic engine of the area.
The towns that are closest to Sasolburg are Parys and Vereeniging, both are located about 30km away, while Vanderbijlpark, is situated about 40km away.
