Sasol Sustainability Report 2023 - Book - Page 49
INTRODUCTION
SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE AGAINST OUR FOCUS AREAS
MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT
DATA AND ASSURANCE
ANNEXURES
MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT // Water CONTINUED
LICENCE APPLICATIONS
RIVER WATER AVAILABILITY
MAINTAINING COMPLIANCE WITH WATER USE AUTHORISATIONS:
ENABLING SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY OF WATER FROM THE INTEGRATED VAAL RIVER SYSTEM (IVRS):
" SO continues to collaborate with the DWS in the process to renew and introduce amendments to its
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 and engagements were conducted during November
and December 2021, 28 February 2022 and 14 October 2022. At the end of October 2022, the DWS
provided an additional list of technical information. The additional information is quite extensive to
collate and prepare, which led to the closure of the application. The DWS advised SO to initiate a new
application, which will allow SO to collate and prepare the required information. The repair of process
water dam 10A was completed. While filling the dam to full capacity, it was clear that some additional
strengthening of the dam wall was needed to ensure the dam could be used at full capacity. The
approved professional advised on the safe level at which the dam could be used while the additional
engineering designs and measures can be concluded and implemented. The additional work is planned
for the 2023 dry season. A process water treatment plant was successfully constructed to address a
portion of surplus process water and is currently in the operational phase.
" The storage levels in the IVRS have recovered well in the past two years thus reducing risks to supply in
the short-term, however, medium to longer term risks still persists. Delays in the implementation of the
Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2, slow progress by municipalities in reducing water losses and
limited progress in eradicating unlawful water use presents future risk of restrictions being placed on
users of the IVRS.
RIVER WATER QUALITY
ENABLING AN ADEQUATE QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIED FROM THE IVRS:
" In the past year, the quality of water supplied to SO improved due to good rainfalls in the catchment.
The primary source of this water is Grootdraai Dam and its associated transfer system. However, we
expect this to deteriorate in the dry season and have adopted a collaborative approach to resolving
these challenges.
" To meet the conditions of our WUL for SO at the end of 2020, we implemented additional lining
measures for Nitro dams four and five. We are also working on a detailed engineering plan for the Groot
Bossiespruit Wetland Reinstatement. This work is part of SO9s WUL Application, which was issued by
the DWS on 2 May 2023, after it met all relevant requirements. We await the outcome of several licence
amendment applications for our Mining Business. See the environmental compliance section for more
details.
" Sasol is supporting a partnership with the Water Research Commission and Rhodes University to
address water quality challenges in the Grootdraai Dam Catchment supplying water to SO. The research
is identifying and prioritising opportunities to improve water quality in the catchment.
" Excessive rainfall in November 2022 placed significant pressure on SO9s effluent storage balances
requiring approval from authorities to allow for limited controlled releases to protect storage
infrastructure.
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (COD) ON WASTEWATER DISCHARGES
Water use million metres cubed m³
2023
2022
River water use
Potable water use
Deslinated water
Other water use
87,8
11,3
3,6
11,4
101,8
13,5
4,2
13,1
Total water use
114,1
132,6
Increase
Decrease
" Aligned with information reported on the DWS Integrated Regulatory Information System (IRIS) we
report on the SEO barrage effluent discharge and SO9s U53 discharge.
" Total COD discharged decreased in FY23 when compared to FY22.
2023
COD tons/
year
No change
The decrease in Total Water used for FY23 compared to FY22 is largely attributed to an improved river water
quality following favorable rains resulting in less water use per volumes of steam generated at SO. For SO,
the first half of the year9s water demand increased due to higher steam requirements on account of poor coal
quality used at gasification. The second half of the year9s water demand decreased as a result of improved
production and improved river water quality form Grootdraai Dam, further, SO experienced frequent potable
water supply interruptions due to infrastructure maintenance resulting in reduced volumes of water supplied
by Rand Water for process application. Other water use decreased due to less water use from Eurasian
Operations.
SO
SEO
168
350
Total
518
*
SEO FY22 data has been restated due to system discrepancies
SASOL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023
48
Compliance limit
COD (mg/L)
75
75
COD tons/
year
2022
2021
COD tons/
year
COD tons/
year
187
1065
156
442*
74
365
1 252
598
439
