Sasol Sustainability Report 2023 - Book - Page 51
INTRODUCTION
SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE AGAINST OUR FOCUS AREAS
MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT
DATA AND ASSURANCE
ANNEXURES
MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT // Land and biodiversity
OUR COMMITMENT //
We have a commitment to responsible use,
preventing pollution and exercising a duty of
care in respect of managing land and
biodiversity in the areas we operate, including
our fenceline communities.
OUR GROUP
APPROACH
We address land risk and associated contamination liabilities by managing the Group top
risk of major SHE incidents. Across all our operations and projects, we undertake continuous
monitoring of the environment, including ecological, groundwater, soil, noise and air
monitoring.
We recognise the interconnectedness of biodiversity loss and climate change and the urgent
need to include biodiversity in our short- and long-term ambitions. To do so, we need to fully
understand our biodiversity footprint.
Biodiversity assessments undertaken at Secunda and Sasolburg facilities.
Sasol ranked 7th out of 294 JSE listed companies and State-Owned Enterprises
(SOEs) for biodiversity disclosure in the latest Biodiversity Disclosure Report
released in June 2023.
PERFORMANCE AND INITIATIVES
We have undertaken a Biodiversity Footprint Assessment (BFA) at two of our largest operations in South Africa, namely Secunda Operations (SO)
and Sasolburg Ekandustria Operations (SEO). The objective is to set biodiversity targets with the goal of maintaining and/or enhancing biodiversity.
OUR BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVES
" Over the years, SO has dedicated resources to research, monitor and manage its natural biodiversity assets in the semi-natural secondary area,
which includes water and wetlands. Information is collated in a 'status of biodiversity' report which describes the trends of various indicators.
In compiling the report, we focus on what are termed 'headline indicators for biodiversity' against a predetermined desired state or target.
" SO has commenced with establishing the state of ecosystem health based on key indicator groups such as Odonata (dragonflies). Insects play
a vital role in all terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Their role in supporting the diversity of the ecological processes on which life depends
is significant. Odonata are less diverse than other insects, which makes them a good group to use as indicators for system health.
FY23 OUTCOMES
Sasol Energy Business partnered with the Endangered
Wildlife Trust (EWT) to advance biodiversity practices
including undertaking a biodiversity footprint assessment for
SO and SEO applying the Biological Diversity Protocol (BDP).
For the latest Biodiversity Disclosure Report released in
June 2023, Sasol Limited ranked a credible 7th best out of
294 JSE-listed companies and SOE in terms of biodiversity
disclosure. While we see this as a commendable achievement,
we recognise the score is still low at 11 out of a maximum of 32.
" SO has authorised a large wetland rehabilitation initiative that will also contribute to improving other wetland functions like water purification
and biodiversity improvement.
" SO continues to contribute and support, through scientific assessments and reporting the terrestrial biodiversity monitoring at the Ramsar
wetland conservancy, Verloren Vallei.
" To preserve biodiversity for future generations, we continue to manage two nature reserves near Sasolburg, hosting 14 species of game
including gemsbok, eland, giraffe, springbok, impala and black wildebeest.
" We are excited to announce the birth of four rhino calves on our Secunda site, after their mothers were saved from a severely poached area.
" The British Broadcasting Corporation conducted filming a third serval documentary in Secunda. It is expected to be released in 2025.
" Sasol Chemicals has issued a palm oil policy that is aimed at sustainable production and ensuring responsible sourcing of palm oil, palm kernel
oil and derivatives. Palm oil production is associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss, soil erosion and water pollution, which contribute to
climate change. Sasol supports and commits to the recent Principles & Criteria set by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, of which we are
a member.
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