Sasol reacts to emission fears at Secunda and Sasolburg operations

Locals are up in arms after Sasol said their gas emissions do not pose a risk to human health.

Sasol said recently it is struggling to remove sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide from the air.

Residents said Sasol is lying when they say the poisonous gasses are not posing a health hazard.

They said hydrogen sulphide is dangerous to human health and causes illnesses such as coughing, nausea and headaches and that sulphur dioxide is causing asthma and high sensitivity.

Mr Patrick Duma, a resident, said Sasol is not telling the whole truth and that their research is not accurate.

“The problem with this is that there is no transparency. They are doing their own research and monitoring and give us the report. How can you be a player and a referee at the same time?

“These gasses are killing us and Sasol must stop misleading the community by providing wrong information.

“They should stop putting profit before people. At what cost are they making a profit?”

Mr Duma said if Sasol is serious about the environment, it should establish a local structure that will look into the matter.

He said the Highveld is one of the most polluted areas in the country.

Sasol comments

Ms Matebello Motloung, Media Relations Group Communication and Brand Management at Sasol, said Sasol complies with applicable environmental legislation.

She said Sasol’s approach to environmental management is focused on accurate monitoring and reporting, compliance with all current license conditions and is continuously reducing emissions either directly from their operations or through offsets.

Sasol facilities are required to comply with more stringent standards commonly referred to as existing plant standards by April 2015 and new plant standards by April 2020.

“Through our environmental road maps, Sasol was able to meet most of the existing plant standards by 1 April 2015.

“Where we needed more time, postponement applications were made to extend the compliance time frames, outlining our road maps to meet these standards.

“Postponements of variable periods up to five years were granted, imposing stretched compliance targets as well as requirements to implement community-based offsets near our facilities.

“Through these road maps, Sasol will be able to meet the existing plant standards and most of the new plant standards by approximately 2025. “Further postponements will therefore be required while the road map is being implemented as the new plant standards’ deadline is currently 2020.

“Our offset plans are also being implemented and are focused on reducing non-industrial sources of air pollution such as household waste burning near our Sasolburg operation, and household coal and wood burning near our Secunda operation.

“Compliance with all applicable laws, including minimum emissions standards, remains our first priority, however it is important to note that while we will meet most of the new plant standards, we face significant challenges in how to meet the new plant standards for steam and power plant sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and coal gassification plant hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions.”

Ms Motloung said a further multi-pronged road map is being investigated to sustainably reduce H2S emissions toward the new plant standards.

She said in addition the company’s group technology team continues to investigate technologies that may enable it to comply with these two specific emissions and it is committed to find a sustainable longer term solution.

“Sasol commissioned an independent third party service provider to do air pollution impact assessments to model our impact on ambient air quality.

“These studies confirmed that, when operating within our license limits, Sasol does not exceed the limits set out in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

“The NAAQS are set and governed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and are informed by World Health Organisation guidelines.

“Sasol reports on our compliance with our license conditions to applicable authorities and provides feedback to our communities on a regular basis.”

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