- Sasol confirms that it remains fully committed to supporting South Africa’s energy transition and improving air quality in the Highveld Priority Area (HPA).
- This includes the development and implementation of a reasonable regulatory framework that enables sustainable ambient air quality improvements in the HPA and balances national priorities, as well as the socio-economic interests of the country.
- Sasol is the world’s largest greenhouse gas point source emitter. Read more
Sasol is a major contributor to poor air quality in the Highveld Priority Area through its Secunda refinery, which was a significant industrial facility in the region along with coal and gas fired power plants and coal mines. Air quality in this region has remained poor, with the area exceeding national health-based standards, largely due to the failure of major industries like Sasol to adequately reduce their emissions of pollutants that cause foul odors and harmful health effects
Rotten egg
Sasol’s Synfuels facility in Secunda, is the main source of H2S. Despite the distinctive “rotten egg” smell of H2S periodically reported in Gauteng, there are currently no ambient air quality standards for H2S in South Africa.
Related news: Gauteng residents given a whiff of rotten egg smelling air
Sasol participated in the consultative processes leading to the development and adoption of the second generation Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan (HPA AQMP), gazetted on 26 March 2025.
“We submitted constructive comments to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (Department), as well as through Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) throughout the process.In the pursuit of regulatory clarity, particularly regarding the 40% emission reduction target and its implications for individual emitters, Sasol is seeking a declaratory judgment/order from the High Court on the interpretation and application of the HPA AQMP and its associated Regulations. As such, papers were filed on 19 September 2025,” said Sasol in a statement.
“Should the Court declare that the HPA AQMP and the Regulations impose binding standards on industrial and mining emitters by 2030, Sasol will seek the review and setting aside of the HPA AQMP. This legal step is procedural and does not detract from our commitment to the air quality objectives in the HPA, nor from ongoing engagement with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, and other stakeholders. As we continue developing and implementing our Emission Reduction Roadmap, Sasol believes legal certainty is key to ensuring the fair and lawful implementation of the HPA AQMP,” concluded Sasol .
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
