JOHANNESBURG, July 12,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sasol's emission sources at our
operations in South Africa are
regulated in accordance with atmospheric emission licenses which
are based on the Minimum Emission Standards (MES) of 22 November 2013 published in terms of section 21
of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of
2004).
On 11 July 2023, Sasol was
informed that the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) had declined
its application of June 2022 in terms
of Clause 12A of the MES to be regulated on an alternative emission
load basis for the sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from
the boilers at its Secunda Operations' steam plants from
1 April 2025 onwards.
Sasol will appeal the decision to the Minister of Forestry,
Fisheries and the Environment, as provided for in Section 43(1) of
the National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998. The appeal
process allows the Minister to consider the application
afresh.
Clause 12A of the MES permits existing plants to be regulated on
an alternative emission load, as opposed to the current
concentration-based limit (the mass of pollutant per cubic metre of
air emitted) specified in the MES. Sasol applied to the NAQO to be
regulated on alternative load-based limits for the sulphur dioxide
(SO2) emissions generated from the boilers at its
Secunda Operations' steam plants from 1
April 2025 onwards.
Since 2015, Sasol has implemented several projects at Secunda,
Sasolburg and Natref, to progressively reduce emissions to comply
with the MES, and has spent more than R7 billion over the last 5
years on emission reduction projects. As such, we have achieved MES
compliance for 98% of our emission sources at these operations. The
remaining sources (2%) are part of our ongoing journey to enable
MES compliance by 1 April 2025. The
only remaining challenge relates to achieving the
concentration-based limit for sulphur dioxide (SO2)
emissions from the boilers at the Secunda Operations' steam
plants.
An integrated emission reduction roadmap, which intends to
deliver emissions reductions in terms of both greenhouse gas
emissions (GHG), SO2 and other pollutants, was
identified as the optimal approach and best aligned with the
objectives of NEMAQA and the purpose of the MES. This involves the
turning down of boilers, reducing coal usage and ramping up our
imports of renewable energy to 1 200 MW by 2030, which is
aligned to Sasol's strategy.
Sasol has already seen a reduction in emissions through the
implementation of energy efficiency projects and is progressing the
deployment of more than half of the committed renewable energy
target from 2025 onwards.
Sasol remains committed to ambient air quality improvement,
legal compliance, transforming our operations and reducing our
environmental footprint in line with our strategy.
For further information, please contact:
Sasol Investor Relations
Tiffany Sydow, VP Investor Relations Officer
+27 (0) 71 673 1929
investor.relations@sasol.com
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/update-on-the-application-in-terms-of-clause-12a-of-the-minimum-emission-standards-in-south-africa-sasol-to-appeal-301875489.html
SOURCE Sasol Limited