In South Africa, legislated minimum emission standards (MES) require that our plants meet existing plant standards for point sources by April 2015. Subsequently, more stringent new plant standards must also be met by April 2020. We already meet most of the MES for existing plants, and we believe we are on track to concurrently meet both the remaining existing and new plant standards for all MES, with the exception of boiler plant sulphur dioxide (S02) by April 2025. Our roadmaps, in certain respects, therefore aim for an integrated solution for purposes of meeting both new and existing plant standards and we discuss these in more detail below.

We are executing our committed air quality improvement roadmaps and our community-based offsets whilst simultaneously advancing technology assessments for certain challenging standards where no feasible solutions currently exist to meet the requirements. In February 2018, we communicated at the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Environmental Affairs (PPCEA) session that our roadmaps are progressing as planned. Our presentation in this regard can be downloaded from the website http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/180206sasol.pdf. To ensure success and enable compliance, we continue to fund and commit  capital to environmental compliance projects. We have a capital allocation framework to assist us in allocating such capital and prioritising capital allocation towards the retention of Sasol’s licence to operate. Details regarding capital allocation and utilisation are included in the annual financial statements.

While we continue to make good progress, we will be reliant on further postponements to 2025 in order to enable the safe and successful execution of the associated projects within the committed timeframes, and to seek a longer-term solution for the challenging new plant standard for SO2 emissions. Sasol’s air quality impact on the surrounding airshed is assessed as part of our postponement application and these reports, together with further information, are available via the following link at https://www.srk.co.za/en/za-sasol-postponements. These assessments confirm that Sasol’s emissions do not cause exceedances of the national ambient air quality standards. We have, however, identified that a significant concern in the vicinity of our plants is the high ambient concentration of particulate matter (PM)  (including smoke), which is especially evident during winter months as a result of domestic coal burning for heating and cooking. We provide more detail about the opportunity for Sasol to help improve overall air quality in our section on beyond-the-factory-fence initiatives.

We have made significant progress with meeting our roadmaps towards meeting the new plant standards. Additionally VOC abatement equipment has been  installed on a tank to reduce emissions. The installation of medium frequency inverters in a boiler is under way and is aimed at helping to reduce particulate matter emissions, as well as high frequency and high voltage pulse energisation inverters are being installed for testing. Additionally VOC abatement equipment has been  installed on a tank to reduce emissions. The installation of medium frequency inverters in a boiler is under way and is aimed at helping to reduce particulate matter emissions, as well as high frequency and high voltage pulse energisation inverters are being installed for testing.

Find Sasol’s published data on both the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) (http://www.saaqis.org.za/) and on the South African National Atmospheric Emission Inventory System (NAEIS) (https://saaelip.environment.gov.za/SAAELIP/NAEIS_FACILITY/Pages/Main/Login.aspx). 

In South Africa, legislated minimum emission standards (MES) require that our plants meet existing plant standards for point sources by April 2015. Subsequently, more stringent new plant standards must also be met by April 2020. We already meet most of the MES for existing plants, and we believe we are on track to concurrently meet both the remaining existing and new plant standards for all MES, with the exception of boiler plant sulphur dioxide (S02) by April 2025. Our roadmaps, in certain respects, therefore aim for an integrated solution for purposes of meeting both new and existing plant standards and we discuss these in more detail below.

We are executing our committed air quality improvement roadmaps and our community-based offsets whilst simultaneously advancing technology assessments for certain challenging standards where no feasible solutions currently exist to meet the requirements. In February 2018, we communicated at the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Environmental Affairs (PPCEA) session that our roadmaps are progressing as planned. Our presentation in this regard can be downloaded from the website http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/180206sasol.pdf. To ensure success and enable compliance, we continue to fund and commit  capital to environmental compliance projects. We have a capital allocation framework to assist us in allocating such capital and prioritising capital allocation towards the retention of Sasol’s licence to operate. Details regarding capital allocation and utilisation are included in the annual financial statements.

While we continue to make good progress, we will be reliant on further postponements to 2025 in order to enable the safe and successful execution of the associated projects within the committed timeframes, and to seek a longer-term solution for the challenging new plant standard for SO2 emissions. Sasol’s air quality impact on the surrounding airshed is assessed as part of our postponement application and these reports, together with further information, are available via the following link at https://www.srk.co.za/en/za-sasol-postponements. These assessments confirm that Sasol’s emissions do not cause exceedances of the national ambient air quality standards. We have, however, identified that a significant concern in the vicinity of our plants is the high ambient concentration of particulate matter (PM)  (including smoke), which is especially evident during winter months as a result of domestic coal burning for heating and cooking. We provide more detail about the opportunity for Sasol to help improve overall air quality in our section on beyond-the-factory-fence initiatives.

We have made significant progress with meeting our roadmaps towards meeting the new plant standards. Additionally VOC abatement equipment has been  installed on a tank to reduce emissions. The installation of medium frequency inverters in a boiler is under way and is aimed at helping to reduce particulate matter emissions, as well as high frequency and high voltage pulse energisation inverters are being installed for testing. Additionally VOC abatement equipment has been  installed on a tank to reduce emissions. The installation of medium frequency inverters in a boiler is under way and is aimed at helping to reduce particulate matter emissions, as well as high frequency and high voltage pulse energisation inverters are being installed for testing.

Find Sasol’s published data on both the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) (http://www.saaqis.org.za/) and on the South African National Atmospheric Emission Inventory System (NAEIS) (https://saaelip.environment.gov.za/SAAELIP/NAEIS_FACILITY/Pages/Main/Login.aspx).