Sasol Limited Integrated Report 2021 - Book - Page 31
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Our response to COVID-19 (CONTINUED)
CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS
SUPPORTING VACCINATIONS
Energy Business
Chemicals Business
We supported our retailers by offering a combination of extended
credit terms and reduced rental for convenience stores.
We provided an important chemical building block for
COVID-19 vaccines. Our ISOCARB 16 is a Guerbet acid derived
from our ISOFOL 16 alcohol and is a key ingredient in a unique
lipid nanoparticle that creates a fatty layer of protection for the
vaccine’s active component, allowing safe transmission into
the body’s cells.
Our retail network received COVID-19 starter packs to ensure
forecourt teams had access to sanitisers, masks and gloves.
Our franchisees’ Sasol Delight stores continued with monthly
promotions, competitions and provided a ‘social distancing’
shopping experience.
Sasol extended financial relief to our liquefied petroleum
gas customers.
In South Africa, to support livelihoods put at risk under the
constrained economic conditions brought on by COVID-19,
we improved payment terms for qualifying suppliers, settling
invoices after 15 days.
Our chemicals remained essential in the manufacture of
COVID-19-related protection items, including alcohols and
surfactants used in cleaning products and polypropylene used
in personal protective equipment.
We ensured reliable supply of our chemicals by proactively moving
product to storage facilities close to our customers and identified
different channels to market, minimising potential logistical delays
and bottlenecks.
In South Africa, we continued to support the high demand
for hygiene products by partnering with Small, Medium and
Micro Enterprises to produce a unique high purity ethanol blend
which is suitable in the manufacturing of disinfectants and
hand sanitisers. A significant portion of the blend was donated
to fenceline communities.
Our efforts include the deployment of our mobile science labs to
support mass screening and testing and the re-purposing of a
number of our facilities in Secunda and Sasolburg to function as
quarantine and treatment centres.
We made numerous donations in support of those at the frontline
of the fight against the virus and to resource quarantine and
medical facilities in and around our fenceline communities.
Sasol endorses the view that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and following existing preventative
controls, such as mask-wearing and social distancing are the best ways to protect oneself against COVID-19.
While we encourage employees to be vaccinated, we recognise that this decision remains at the employee’s
discretion, which is exercised without fear of discrimination or retaliation.
We have set up accredited vaccination sites at our medical centres at our Sasolburg and Secunda complexes
for our employees and service providers.
4 743 vaccinations
have been administered by end of July in South Africa
Mozambique:
In March 2021, the Government of Mozambique initiated a COVID-19 vaccination programme with a prioritised
rollout plan targeting workers in the health sector. To complement the initiative, a UNIVAX platform was created
specifically to allow the private sector to purchase vaccines through the Mozambique Ministry of Health.
Through this platform, the government encourages companies to procure vaccines and, as an offset, donate
10% of the acquired vaccines back to the government to supplement the national vaccination programme.
COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETIES
We recognise our duty to support those in need across our
operating geographies and fenceline communities, most especially
where socio-economic disparities are significant and communities
are vulnerable. This relates particularly to Mozambique and
South Africa. Sasol has demonstrated, through our integrated
COVID-19 response initiatives, that our contributions have an
impact in stemming the tide of COVID-19 through supporting
national and local strategies to combat the effect of the pandemic.
We support the view that accelerated efforts in
vaccination remains the best way to slow the
pandemic, save lives, drive a truly global economic
recovery and prevent further dangerous variants
from surging around the globe.
These included:
• continuing with the production of hand sanitiser using our new
unique alcohol blend by partnering with KSM Chemical Solutions,
a business developed at the Sasol Business Incubator;
• partnering with the Imperial Group, Stellar Transport, Reef Tankers
and Super Group Freight to distribute more than 1,2 million litres
of sanitiser donated by Sasol to communities, government and
staff. We also delivered sanitiser to other beneficiaries including
schools, taxi associations, tribal leaders and local municipalities;
• distributing educational and awareness communication about
COVID-19 in our fenceline communities; and
• supplying personal protective equipment to hospitals in Sasolburg
and Secunda.
Through the UNIVAX platform, we accessed vaccines for our Mozambique stakeholders.
The Vilanculos, Temane and Inhassoro rural regions have limited access to healthcare and treatment facilities
for COVID-19. Vaccinating employees and contractors, lead to an improved capability of saving lives and
preventing increase in number of cases and serious hospitalisation.
By 30 June 2021, we had no active cases of COVID-19 infection among employees and we had trained medical
staff to administer vaccinations.
A vaccination promotion drive resulted in 1 300 stakeholders designated for vaccination.
As at 9 August 2021, 85% of registered individuals had received first dose.
60% of our employees had received first dose.
The United States:
The Medical Centre in Lake Charles administered 546 vaccines to 288 Sasol employees, service providers
and family members. Fifty employees and family members were vaccinated at our Houston office. In early
June 2021, no new cases had been recorded. All employees who contracted the virus had fully recovered and
returned to work.
Eurasia:
• Germany: Our head office and Marl site started with vaccinations and Brunsbuttel site began its rollout
at the beginning of June.
• China: By year end, more than 60% of workers had been vaccinated.
• Italy: In Augusta, Terranova and Sarroch, the vaccination campaign was run in Iine with the Italian industrial
zone approach.
• Slovakia: The vaccination of the workforce took place via the national health care system.
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Sasol Integrated Report 2021