Sasol Climate Change Report 2023 - Book - Page 50
INTRODUCTION
TRANSFORMING FOR RESILIENCE
GOVERNANCE
CLIMATE ADVOCACY AND POLICY
DATA AND ASSURANCE
ADAPTATION CONTINUED
Physical climate risk identification and assessment
Chronic physical risks: longer
term shifts in climate patterns
Acute physical risks: event-driven
Tropical cyclone
These powerful storms can cause
extensive damage to infrastructure,
including facilities and disrupt operations
due to strong winds, heavy rainfall and
storm surges.
Prolonged drought conditions can affect
water-intensive operations such as cooling
systems or hydrocarbon processing,
potentially leading to production
constraints.
Storm surge
Flooding
A rising of the sea during tropical storms
resulting in coastal floodings, posing a
risk to operations, particularly ports and
coastal refineries.
Climate change will impact
regions differently. The
general trends of increases
in warming, the intensity
of heatwaves and weather
extremes related to rainfall
are all risks relevant to
Sasol’s operations and
supply chain.
Tornado (increasing winds)
Drought
Tornadoes can cause significant
destruction, including damage to
buildings and equipment, potentially
leading to production interruptions and
safety hazards.
High temperature
Excessive rainfall and flooding can
damage infrastructure, disrupt
transportation routes and impact
supply chains.
Extreme heat can lead to heatwaves,
affecting worker safety, increased
cooling demands, and potentially
impacting process efficiency.
Lightning
Lightning strikes may cause power
outages and other infrastructure damage.
Bush fire
Hurricane
Low temperature
Powerful winds can cause flooding and
storm surges, damaging infrastructure
and threatening people's safety and
livelihoods.
Extreme cold can cause machinery and
equipment to malfunction or become
less efficient. It can also pose health
risks such as hypothermia and frostbite
for outdoor workers.
Higher temperatures and dry conditions
can increase the risk of bush or veld fires,
which may threaten facilities and disrupt
supply chains.
Materiality assessment of Sasol’s physical climate risks
Building on our downscaled modelling, we have
reviewed our site-specific risk profiles and carried
out adaptation materiality assessments for our main
operating sites.
This process involved creating a matrix to assess the
significance of risks, prioritise actions and manage them.
Risks were categorised as high, medium or low. As was found
last year with Secunda and Lake Charles, the review of the risk
profile for ROAS confirmed existing risk themes and validated
our approach. Mitigation controls were implemented for all
identified adaptation risks. The table alongside provides a
summary of the main areas of focus and key controls for ROAS.
Risk theme
Risk consequence
Controls
(in addition to the weather readiness procedure)
CHRONIC AND ACUTE RISKS
In 2022, we reported on the materiality assessments for two of
our major strategic sites 3 Secunda and Lake Charles. This year,
we reviewed Regional Operations and Asset Services (ROAS),
which includes the operations and services of a network of gas
pipeline infrastructure, wax manufacturing, regional maintenance
and site services.
Summarised view of Sasol ROAS adaptation risks and controls
INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE
INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY
AND SEVERITY OF EXTREME
WEATHER EVENTS
Personnel exposed to excessive heat while
performing outdoor tasks
Evaluate the efficacy of existing controls to identify gaps
and improvements; awareness training
Apply applicable protocols when working outside during
extreme hot days
Exceedance of flood lines
Re-confirm flood lines; introduce flood-prevention control
measures
Safety of workers in extreme wind
Works instruction to be developed for extreme weather
readiness appropriate for pipelines
Lightning strikes damaging plant equipment resulting
in production interruptions
Confirm that the risk of lightning strikes has been
captured and measures are in place
SASOL CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT 2023
49
