corporate review

Safety, health and the environment

Introduction  The Sasol Safety, Health and Environmental Centre published the Sasol Safety, Health and Environmental Report 2000 (SHE report), the third biennial SHE report. This edition formally confirmed the Group’s commitment to sustainable development, which is now integral to Sasol’s corporate values, governance, business development strategies and daily business operations.

Sasol has been a Responsible Care™ signatory since 1994 and continues to participate in Responsible Care programmes around the world. The Group has committed itself to uphold the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines™ of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI™), which aim to provide an internationally acceptable framework for reporting on the social, economic and environmental performances of businesses with a view to promoting sustainable development.

Since March 2001, when Sasol acquired Condea (now Sasol Chemie), substantial effort has been devoted to integrating the newly acquired businesses. In the team established to facilitate the integration is a group focusing on safety, health and environmental issues. As part of the integration exercise, best practice is being identified and leveraged throughout the Group. The Sasol corporate governance model on safety, health and the environment is being adapted to apply to all businesses.

The fourth biennial SHE report, which will be a sustainable development report along the lines of the GRI, will cover these new operations, as well as the established businesses, when published in 2002.

Operational highlights  The feasibility stage of the strategic environmental assessment of the Vaal Triangle is progressing with key stakeholders, including the Gauteng and Free State provincial and local governments, supporting the process. Nine more business operations have attained ISO 14001 certification for their environmental management systems.

Sasol Chemie maintained a pleasing safety performance during the first four months of reporting. This is attributable to a strong commitment to Responsible Care and the timely establishment of a comprehensive baseline on safety, health and environmental issues, which helped to identify SHE priorities.

Mines reduce accidents  Sasol Mining’s operations achieved an overall improvement (see graph on page 36). The lowlight, however, was the five deeply regretted fatal accidents. Six of the eight relevant Sasol Mining operational areas have been ISO 14001-certified, a gain on the four reported a year ago.

State authorities approved the environmental management programmes developed for Sigma Colliery, near Sasolburg, and the Syferfontein operations, near Secunda. Sasol Mining is to execute a R260 million project to construct an evaporator crystalliser water treatment facility to further improve water management at Secunda.

Noscar 27 for SCI  At the Sasolburg Sasol One site, SCI worked one-million hours without a disabling injury on four occasions. It received its 27th Noscar from the National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA), making SCI one of only two companies in South Africa to have achieved this distinction, NOSA’s highest award for excellence in safety. The Sasol Ammonia and Schümann Sasol operations at the Sasol One site were ISO 14001-certified.

All South African operations of SCI’s Sasol Solvents division are now ISO 14001 certified.

Outstanding Polymers performance  Sasol Polymers performed well as a result of more dedicated application of the behaviour-based safety approach. NOSA Noscars were presented to three operations: the Monomers and Polypropylene businesses at Secunda and the Sasolburg Midland site, the site of the Chemicals, Polythene and Vinyls businesses. The Midland factory received the National Association for Clean Air Award in September 2000. A major chlorine leak occurred at the Umbogintwini site in September 2000. Despite the absence of further escapes, the plant was closed in March 2001.

Fire mars good Natref record  Natref at Sasolburg achieved its fifth Noscar, as well as the NOSA Regional Housekeeping Award for excellence in managing occupational safety and hygiene. Unfortunately, two people died in a fire which damaged the crude distillation unit in June 2001. The damage is being repaired and measures taken to prevent a recurrence of this tragedy.

The ISO 14001-certified Natref operation remains committed to reducing emissions and waste in line with the Natref 2000 emission reduction plan. The company undertook further investments into technology and systems in an effort to further reduce accidents, pollution and waste.

Noscar 10 for SSF  SSF achieved one-million man-hours worked without a disabling injury on four occasions and two-million man-hours without a disabling injury on one occasion. It also received its 10th consecutive Noscar. The Sasol Agri operations at Secunda, regrettably, reported three fatalities.

SSF and its business partners completed the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for the Secunda complex. The information generated by the SEA is being used to prepare indicators of sustainability against which proposed projects can be measured. The Integrated Water Management Programme of the Secunda operations continues to advance. A further R11 million will be invested in the year ahead as part of a long-term programme to improve water management, with a twofold objective of reducing waste and costs.

Excellence for Oil and Gas  Sasol Oil’s Motor Fuels division maintained its NOSA five-star grading. Sasol Gas has consistently achieved a NOSA five-star safety management grading over the past seven years. All Sasol Gas pipeline installations and modifications continue to be constructed and operated according to the American National Standard for Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems.

Sasol Oil played a key role in a Government-facilitated process to establish a new diesel standard to reduce the maximum sulphur content from 5 500 ppm to 3 000 ppm from January 2002. This agreement will greatly reduce diesel-engine particulate and sulphur oxide emissions. The company proposed the introduction of an ultra-low-sulphur diesel. This will be regulated with effect from January 2002.

The permitted sulphur levels in unleaded petrol are also likely to be reduced in 2003 in conjunction with the introduction of mandatory emission standards for new vehicles. Sasol is well positioned to supply to these more exacting requirements due to its advanced manufacturing and refining processes. Sasol Oil also introduced through its Blue Pump network the groundbreaking unleaded petrol, Sasol Formula 100 Dual Fuel™. This fuel reduces metal airborne emissions by 98%. All Sasol Oil operating and affiliate divisions are now ISO 14001-certified.

Beneficial technological commitment  The Sasol Technology Research and Development group continues to undertake comprehensive life-cycle assessments of Sasol products in line with Responsible Care™. Other Sasol Technology groups continue to harness new opportunities to improve the energy-efficiency, water conservation and emissions aspects of Sasol’s current and future generations of petrochemical plants.