Sasol Sustainability Report 2023 - Book - Page 45
INTRODUCTION
SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE AGAINST OUR FOCUS AREAS
MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT
DATA AND ASSURANCE
ANNEXURES
MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT // Air quality management CONTINUED
UPDATE ON OUR SO2 APPLICATION TO BE REGULATED VIA ALTERNATIVE LOAD-BASED EMISSION LIMITS
UNDER CLAUSE 12A OF OUR MES
INTEGRATED ROADMAP OBJECTIVES AND TIMELINES
2019 baseline
year 526 t/d SO2
2017
2019
4% SO2 load reduction to 503 t/d
2021
2025
30% SO2 load reduction to 365 t/d
2026
2017 baseline
year 63 MtCO2e
30% GHG reduction
5% GHG reduction
¯ Sasolburg: Steam
station 1 and 2
Particulate Matter (PMs),
Nitorus Oxide (NOx),
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
and thermal oxidisation
compliance roadmap
complete
¯ Secunda: Steam plant
PMs and NOx, biosludge
and HOW solution,
crude tar tanks, SCC PMs
and other compliance
roadmap complete
Air quality
compliance
roadmap
2050
2030
An alternate SO2 emission
load-based limit for the
period from 1 April 2025 up
until 1 April 2030 has been
applied for under Clause 12A
of the MES
An alternate SO2 emission
load-based limit from
1 April 2030 indicating a
30% SO2 reduction has
been applied for under
Clause 12A of the MES
Immediate SO2 reduction on
a load basis experienced. In
addition, a further reduction
in NOx and PM emissions
from the steam plants on
load basis
For more information relating to our SO2 journey refer to "Our SO2 compliance journey= www.sasol.com/air-quality/
Atmospheric emissions
kilotons (kt)
600MW
renewable
energy¹
Turn down
of 1 boiler
3
To enable the implementation of our SO2 solution, we will need to be regulated via Clause 12A of the MES.
Clause 12A of the MES provides for an existing plant, such as SO9s steam plant, to be regulated on an
alternative emission load, as opposed to the current concentration-based limit (the mass of pollutant per
cubic metre of air emitted) specified in the MES. We applied to the NAQO in June 2022 to be regulated on
alternative load-based limits for the SO2 emissions generated from the boilers at SO9s steam plants from
1 April 2025 onwards.
WWW
Energy and
process
efficiency
2
We do, however, have a solution to enable SO to effectively reduce its SO2 footprint from the boilers at its steam
plant to optimally improve ambient air quality. This is through the implementation of an integrated air quality
and GHG reduction roadmap, as represented on the diagram on the left, which includes an integrated design to
enable the achievement of multiple environmental improvements and with SO2 reduction as a key focus. The
integrated roadmap involves the turning down of boilers, reducing coal usage and ramping up our imports of
renewable energy to 1 200MW by 2030, which is aligned to Sasol9s strategy. A reduction in emissions, through
the implementation of energy efficiency projects can already be seen and we are progressing the deployment of
more than half of the committed renewable energy target from 2025 onwards.
On 11 July 2023, we were informed that the NAQO had refused the Clause 12A application of June 2022
and on 31 July 2023, we submitted an appeal on the decision to the Minister of DFEE, as provided for in
Section 43(1) of the National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998.
GHG
reduction
roadmap
1
Since 2015, we have implemented several projects at Secunda, Sasolburg and Natref, to progressively
reduce emissions to comply with the MES. We have spent more than R7 billion over the last five years on
emission reduction projects. As such, we have achieved MES compliance for 98% of our emission sources at
these operations. The remaining sources (2%) are part of our ongoing journey to enable MES compliance by
1 April 2025. The only remaining challenge relates to achieving the concentration-based limit for sulphur
dioxide (SO2) emissions from the boilers at the SO steam plants.
600MW(²⁾
renewable energy
in a phased
approach and
energy efficiency
Decarbonising
and creating
new value pools
Additional boiler
turndown and
asset optimisation,
additional gas³
200MW is Sasol9s portion of the initial procured 600MW in partnership with Air Liquide.
Having sold part of the Air Separation Units (ASUs) to Air Liquide, 800MW represents Sasol9s consumption
of the total 1 200MW target for Secunda.
An additional approximately 40 3 60 PJ/a gas if economically viable.
2023
2022
PM
7,63
8,22
NOX
122,04
118,70
SO: FY23: 3% increase (FY22 3 FY23) due to higher steam production
rates on average.
SOX
166,88
161,87
SO: Slight increase in SO2emissions for FY23 due to the higher steam
production rates. The intensity however is comparable with the previous
year considering the marginal changes in the sulphur content of the coal.
SEO: Slight increase in sulphur emissions due to the higher sulphur
content in the coal.
13,42
26,30
SO: 49% decrease in VOC emissions due the completion of the drains
installation projects.
Volatile organic
compounds (VOC)
SASOL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023
44
Reasons
SO: 17% reduction (FY22 3 FY23) as a result of the abatement installation
of an additional three Electrostatic precipitators (ESP)s on the East plant.
Sasolburg Ekandustria Operations (SEO): Reduction associated with the
upgrade of ESPs as part of the abatement project for SEO.