Azul, a trusted leader in enterprise Java solutions for today’s AI- and cloud-first world, has announced that Sasol, the global integrated chemicals and energy company headquartered in South Africa, has standardized more than 150 business-critical Java applications on Azul Core. The large-scale migration, completed in partnership with Optim-G, eliminated costly Oracle licensing fees, reduced total Java licensing costs by 92%, and significantly strengthened Sasol’s security and compliance posture across 7,000 end-user devices and 200 servers.
Sasol depends heavily on Java to power the applications that underpin approximately $14 billion in annual turnover. Java is deeply embedded throughout the company’s IT ecosystem, supporting essential operational systems that help ensure safe production, continuous plant performance, and uninterrupted business processes. Any instability, licensing disruption, or security vulnerability within this environment could potentially result in production delays, costly shutdowns, or safety risks. For Sasol, modernizing and securing its Java estate was not simply an IT initiative — it was a business-critical priority.
Escalating Costs and Risk Exposure
Prior to selecting Azul, Sasol faced mounting challenges associated with its Oracle Java environment. Oracle’s evolving and often unpredictable Java SE licensing model created financial uncertainty and significantly increased operational costs. Changes to subscription structures and pricing introduced unplanned expenses that complicated budgeting and long-term IT planning.
In addition to rising costs, Sasol faced growing compliance complexity. Oracle’s licensing terms required careful interpretation and management, and the possibility of audits introduced both legal and financial risk. Maintaining compliance across thousands of endpoints and hundreds of servers became an increasingly resource-intensive task for the IT asset management team.
Security concerns further intensified the urgency to act. Portions of Sasol’s Java estate included unsupported or outdated versions such as Java 6 and Java 7, along with legacy Java applets. These versions were no longer covered under Oracle Java SE Long-Term Support (LTS), exposing the organization to heightened cybersecurity threats. Unsupported software increases vulnerability to exploits, which could lead to operational disruption or regulatory penalties.
For a global enterprise operating in regulated markets, these risks were substantial. Exposure to cybersecurity incidents could carry implications under frameworks such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as well as domestic legislation like Critical Infrastructure Protection Act in South Africa. Addressing cost volatility, compliance risk, and security vulnerabilities became a strategic imperative for Sasol’s leadership.
A Strategic Migration to Azul Core
Sasol was introduced to Azul through its IT services partner, Optim-G, a specialist in optimization, automation, and digital transformation initiatives. Following a comprehensive evaluation, Sasol selected Azul Core to standardize and modernize its Java runtime environment.
A two-month proof-of-value assessment validated Azul’s ability to support legacy Java versions — including Java 6, Java 7, and the Java Plugin for applets — while delivering enterprise-grade security updates and performance stability. The successful pilot paved the way for a full-scale migration from Oracle Java to Azul across the enterprise.
The migration project ran from April to September 2025 and encompassed more than 150 business-critical applications. Throughout the transition, Azul provided hands-on engineering expertise to ensure compatibility, minimize risk, and maintain operational continuity. Optim-G played a central role in coordinating service management, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring that the migration integrated seamlessly with Sasol’s broader IT operations.
The result was a smooth and disruption-free transition, allowing Sasol to replace its Oracle Java estate without impacting production systems or business services.
Measurable Business Impact
By standardizing on Azul Core, Sasol achieved a 92% reduction in Java licensing costs, delivering substantial and immediate financial relief. Just as importantly, the organization gained predictability in licensing and long-term cost management — eliminating the uncertainty associated with Oracle’s evolving subscription model.
Security posture also improved significantly. Azul’s ongoing support for legacy Java versions allowed Sasol to secure applications that would otherwise remain exposed. Regular updates and enterprise-grade support strengthened the company’s defenses against cyber threats while supporting regulatory compliance obligations.
Shailendra Nathoo, senior lead for IT asset management at Sasol, emphasized the strategic importance of the move, noting that Azul enabled the company to take control of and future-proof its Java environment. He highlighted the smooth migration process and the strong collaboration between Azul’s engineering team and Optim-G, which ensured the success of the initiative.
James Johnston, vice president of EMEA at Azul, added that Sasol’s transition reflects a broader trend among enterprises across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa moving away from Oracle’s licensing model. By partnering with Azul and Optim-G, Sasol not only reduced costs but also reinforced security, ensured compliance, and maintained uninterrupted operations.
Future-Ready for Digital Transformation
With its Java environment modernized and stabilized, Sasol is now better positioned to pursue ongoing digital transformation initiatives. The organization benefits from a cost-effective, secure, and fully supported Java platform capable of scaling alongside innovation in AI, cloud computing, and automation.
For a company whose operations depend on reliability, safety, and regulatory adherence, the migration to Azul Core represents more than a licensing change — it is a foundational investment in long-term resilience, operational continuity, and sustainable growth.
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