2022 Sasol Sustainability Report - Book - Page 60
SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE AGAINST OUR FOCUS AREAS
INTRODUCTION
DATA AND ASSURANCE
MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT (CONTINUED)
Water management
(continued)
WATER PROJECTS
WATER QUALITY
Sasol has implemented the following community projects related to water:
Demand for water by all users from the IVRS, which is the main supplier
of water for Sasol, continues to outstrip supply. As a result, Sasol has
introduced the following mitigation actions:
• In Secunda, we supported the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality by investing approximately R180 million in water and
sanitation infrastructure projects in recent years. This includes completing two sewer pump-stations in Kinross,
which we have handed to the local government.
• In Sasolburg, we continued to support the Metsimaholo Local Municipality through the following projects:
– Installation of water-saving devices and monitoring systems in schools.
– Contracting plumbers and water warriors to carry out basic leak repairs at over 28 schools and 10 000 homes in Zamdela.
• Our Mining operations implemented the following projects in 2021:
– Upgraded the Greylingstad sewer and wastewater treatment works.
– Built a water pipeline from eMbalenhle to Charl Cilliers to provide the Charl Cilliers community with better access
to water.
– Rehabilitated bridges in Polar Township near Ogies in Mpumalanga.
• River water use decreased from 108,5 million m³ in 2021 to 101,8 million m³ in 2022 mainly due to lower SO production
as a result of poor coal quality, coal supply constraints and a partial switch to potable water.
• Potable water use has increased from 13,4 million m³ to 13,5 million m³ which is attributed mainly to an increase in demand
for potable water in Secunda as an alternative to deteriorating river water quality as an alternative to deteriorating river
water quality
• Other water use has decreased from 13,9 million3 to 13,1 million m3 in 2022 due to a decrease in demand by Eurasia Operations.
• Tracking the performance of the IVRS.
• Maintaining relationships with the operators of water pumping
transfer stations to obtain early warning signs of critical water supply
challenges.
• Providing technical support and inputs to DWS on critical water supply
pump stations.
• Escalating challenges through formal communication to the relevant
personnel within DWS.
• Engaging with other stakeholders such as Eskom and Rand Water to
identify catchment water challenges which are suitable for collective
response.
• Supporting the partnership between the Water Research Commission
and Rhodes University to address water quality challenges in the Vaal
river catchment.
• Supporting the South African Strategic Water Partners Network, an
engagement platform where private, public and civil society partners
collaborate to close the water gap facing the country.
PERFORMANCE
SO
Groot Bosjesspruit wetland
re-instatement
This wetland re-instatement project is in
support of meeting stricter water quality
objectives and consists of direct (in stream
structures) and indirect (defined in the
wetland management plan) interventions.
The integrated water and waste
management plan as well as supporting
technical document requirements were
submitted to DWS by end-February 2022.
The successful conclusion of this water use
licence application will only allow for partial
implementation of the wetland structures
during the dry season of 2022. The project
can be expected to be completed by
November 2023 depending on the effect
rainfall might have on its execution.
SEO
Water use licence renewal (amendment)
SO continues to collaborate with the DWS in the process to renew
and introduce amendments to its water use licence (WUL).
Engagements were previously initiated which allowed Sasol the
opportunity to demonstrate the preparedness to work through the
technical information with the DWS, thereby helping to facilitate
the processing of the WUL application. Site visits were conducted
during November and December 2021 and another engagement
with regards to specific water uses was held on 28 February 2022.
DWS was satisfied with the information presented and made
recommendations for the river maintenance plan in relation to
plant species list, fishways and stormwater impacts. The DWS
agreed that it could be included as conditions in the new WUL.
The outcome of the licence application is awaited.
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (COD)
ON WASTEWATER DISCHARGES
Aligned with information reported on DWS Integrated Regulatory
Information System (IRIS) for Green Drop reporting, we decided
to report on the SEO Barrage effluent discharge and SO’s U53
discharge. The COD discharges for SO and SEO reported on the
IRIS system decreased in 2022 from 2021.
The repair of Process water dam 10A was completed and the full
capacity re-instated.
A process water treatment plant was successfully constructed to
address a portion of surplus process water and is currently in the
commissioning phase.
• In order to improve the efficiency of waste water treatment at the bioworks in Sasolburg an investigation
was conducted into the Metsimaholo Local Municipality sewer system to reduce the hydraulic load. This will
also hopefully address the cause of several incidents that were reported to DWS.
SASOL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2022
59
2021
2022
COD
tons/year
COD
tons/year
Target
COD
COD
(tons/year)
(mg/L)
for 2022
74
156
75
187
SEO
365
242
75
1 065
Total
440
389
SO
1 253