By The Minister for Fishery and the Environment Ms Barbara Creecy has upheld Sasol South Africa’s application to have its Secunda Operation’s steam plant to be regulated on an alternative emission load- basis.
Sasol first made its application in 2023, which was rejected by the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) on 11 July 2023. The petrochemical company then submitted an appeal to Minister Creecy on 31 July 2023 to set aside the decision of the NAQO.
The facility in Secunda converts coal into liquid through a process that requires steam, based on the emissions produced by the steam plant, Sasol appealed the decision. Initially, the NAQO said it reached its decision of rejecting Sasol’s application because the company did not meet other emission requirements at their plant, to grant the petro giant their application to be regulated on a different emission load- bases, they must first meet other requirements.
Sasol applied to be regulated on an alternative emission load-basis, as opposed to the current concentration-based limits, for the sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions generated from the boilers at their Secunda Operations’ steam plants from 1 April 2025 and beyond.
Sasol says it has been steadfast in its commitment to ambient air quality improvement and reducing their environmental footprint.
On 5 April 2024, the Minister issued her decision, in terms of which she upheld SSA’s appeal and set aside the decision of the NAQO. The Minister concluded that SSA’s application met all the requirements of Clause 12A, and therefore replaced the NAQO’s decision by permitting that load-based limits be applied from 1 April 2025 up to 31 March 2030.
“Having duly considered the abovementioned information, I have decided, in terms of section 43(6) of NEMA, to uphold the appellant’s appeal and to set aside the NAQO’s refusal decision of 11 July 2023,” said the Minister in her decision.
She further granted Sasol the requested load-based limit for SO₂ being 503 t/d from 1 April 2025 to 31 March subject to further conditions that she laid out for the petrochemical giant.
“We will engage with the Minister to finalise the regulatory requirements for the decision to take full effect, following which our atmospheric emission license will have to be varied accordingly,” said Sasol.
