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| Our environmental performance |
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| Working to minimise waste |
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Managing the risks associated with waste remains a priority at Sasol. Cleaner production and pollution prevention principles have been integrated within our new Sasol group SH&E minimum requirements with the aim of reducing future risks, while a comprehensive programme is in place to manage historical legacies in accordance with relevant legal requirements. The underlying goal of the minimum requirements is to adopt a systematic and hierarchical approach to integrated waste management that results in zero hazardous waste.
In 2006, Sasol operations generated 270 kt of hazardous waste, representing an 8% decrease on the previous year. Over the same period, we generated 1 126 kt of non-hazardous waste, up from 959 kt in 2005. A large portion of the hazardous waste generated this year was as a result of the once-off removal of hydrocarbon sludge from storage dams at our Secunda operations. A major waste minimisation programme is being undertaken along the oily water and storm-water sewer systems at Sasol Synfuels. Ongoing focus areas include the abatement of associated VOC emissions and the disposal of hydrocarbon sludge.
At Sasolburg, the full benefits of converting to natural gas feedstock are being realised, with a significant decrease in hazardous waste associated with the elimination of gasification sludge. At Sasol Wax, a project was initiated to use spent catalyst in the manufacture of bricks, resulting in the elimination of 300 tonnes of waste a month.
The recently commissioned waste-recycling facility at Secunda is fully operational and a waste-water treatment plant linked to this facility capable of treating high organic strength effluents has been commissioned. It is anticipated that the full benefits of these facilities for current on- and off-site waste treatment and disposal activities will soon be visible. |
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| Hazardous and non-hazardous waste (thousand kilotonne) |
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Hazardous waste |
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Non-hazardous waste |
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t product per t waste |
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| Water use and liquid effluent |
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Water is a concern in many of our operations, particularly in the
Middle East and South Africa. To ensure effective effluent and water
demand management at our operations, minimum requirements for
water and effluent handling are being developed based on World Bank guidelines. Although the group is implementing several water-demand
and effluent management projects, most of these are at an
early stage. So far, there has been little evident reduction in the total
volume of water used, or effluent generated, per tonne of product.
During the 2006 reporting period, our total water usage per tonne of
product decreased by 2% throughout the group compared with the
levels of the previous year. The more water intense processes still
make up a large percentage of total production.
During the year, our Brunsbüttel operation in Germany was awarded
first prize by the German Chemical Association for its waste-water
reduction project. This project resulted in reduced consumption of
potable water of 200 000 m3 a year, as well as a 50% reduction in
the waste-water load.
Various initiatives were undertaken in South Africa with the aim of
ensuring improved water use efficiency and ensuring greater security
of supply. As part of the major expansions at the Sasol Synfuels
operation, undertaken primarily to meet new fuel specifications, a
capital investment of about R500 million was made in a series of
water-treatment processes to recover an existing effluent. The
initiative resulted in no additional water demand required as part of
the expansion, as well as in a reduction of effluent discharged to the
environment. In another initiative, construction commenced for a R3,3 billion pipeline that will pipe water from the upper Vaal River
system to ensure a sustainable supply of water, up to 2030, to both
Sasol and Eskom as they increase capacity to meet rising demand for
liquid fuels and electricity, respectively.
The only significant environmental event took place in December
2005, when failure of an emergency pipeline at Secunda during
abnormally high rainfall resulted in an effluent discharge that killed
fish in the Klipspruit River. We immediately undertook measures to
inform regulatory authorities and the community and to rehabilitate
the affected area.
Key challenges ahead include implementing our commitment to zero
effluent, ensuring effective water supply over the longer term in our
South African operations and reducing salt discharge. |
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| Water use and effluent (million cubic metres) |
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Water |
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Effluent |
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| Comprehensive air pollution review at
Sasolburg and Secunda |
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| To assist us to prepare for the changing regulatory environment
in South Africa, in 2005 we commissioned two internationally
recognised air quality management consultancies, International
Sustainable Systems Research Centre (ISSRC) and Performance
Management Inc (PMI), to jointly conduct a comprehensive
assessment of the air quality issues facings our operations at
Sasolburg and Secunda. During August 2005, a six-member
ISSRC/PMI team visited the Sasol facilities at Sasolburg and
Secunda where they: |
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reviewed the current operations; |
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interviewed operational and corporate personnel; |
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interviewed national, provincial and municipal government
and regulatory officials; |
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met activists from NGOs; and |
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met South African industrial representatives. |
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On the basis of a comparison with international best-in-class
activities, the team made recommendations. Process
recommendations included detailed process changes and
identified emissions limits based on best-in-class reasonably
available control technology (RACT) and best available
technology (BAT) options.
Suggested environmental management recommendations
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developing a complete emissions inventory for each plant in a
dynamic format that supports easy updating, analysis and
reporting, and that is accurate, comprehensive and automated; |
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developing facility-wide emission reduction roadmaps aimed
at ensuring RACT/BAT compliance; |
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promoting greater transparency in ambient air quality data
and emissions data; |
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setting specific environmental performance indicators ; |
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changing the corporate SH&E function from a largely
advisory role to a standard-setting and auditing function; |
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building on the behaviour-based safety system to include and
reinforce improved environmental behaviour; and |
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identifying and implementing measures to develop, attract
and retain personnel with suitable environmental and air
quality management skills. |
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These recommendations will significantly lower emissions,
improve national air quality and produce more efficient
operations at Sasol and at other industries that may choose to
follow Sasol's example.
A task team has been appointed to facilitate the implementation
of these recommendations. |
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| Meeting cleaner fuel specifications |
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| All our liquid fuels delivered to the South African marketplace
since 1 January 2006 have met the new specifications for cleaner
fuels. Besides terminating the production and marketing of
leaded petrol and introducing a lead-replacement petrol for
older vehicles, Sasol and the rest of the South African fuel
industry had to introduce a diesel with a substantially lower
sulphur content − down from 3 000 parts per million (ppm) to
500 ppm. Sasol's diesel already complies with the most stringent international sulphur specifications. Both our Secunda operation
and the Natref oil refinery at Sasolburg, owned by Sasol and
Total South Africa, successfully completed their clean-fuels
projects on time. Sasol Oil, Total South Africa and Natref are
working with Sasol Technology on a new investment programme
aimed at meeting the more stringent petrol and diesel
specifications that are likely to become mandatory from
2008 onwards. |
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| Investing in land remediation |
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Because of our historical chemicals and fuels processes, we have
several areas where soil or groundwater has been polluted in the
past. Over the year, good progress has been made in the remediation
of contaminated land throughout the group. At 30 June 2006, we
had a provision at Sasol Synfuels of R1,6 billion for site remediation.
At Sasol Mining there is provision for R430 million, of which
R240 million was invested in a trust fund for mine closure and
rehabilitation. This figure is reviewed annually to ensure adequate
provision is made at all times, taking into account all relevant
circumstances. In some areas, remediation projects were successfully
complete, while in others, detailed surface and groundwater
characterisation projects have been implemented or are ongoing.
We completed comprehensive characterisation studies at our
Phalaborwa and Sasolburg operations where identified remediation
options are being implemented. Detailed assessments of
groundwater contamination at our Sasolburg and Secunda facilities
are continuing and various opportunities for effective remediation
are being assessed. As part of our expansion into the fuel retail
market, risk assessments have been undertaken prior to any retail fuel station being acquired. Where deemed necessary, these have
been accompanied by more detailed site investigations.
Remedial projects are ongoing in our US operations at Lake Charles
in Louisiana and at Baltimore in Maryland, as well as the nonoperating
sites of Aberdeen and Mansfield. These remedial activities
are attributable to operations conducted before Sasol acquired the
sites and are covered by relevant environmental indemnities. In Italy,
remedial activities, also mostly attributable to operations conducted
prior to Sasol's acquisition of these businesses, are being undertaken
on the Augusta, Crotone, Porto Torres, Paderno and Sarroch sites. |
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