Sasol is required to comply with Minimum Emission Standards (MES), published in 2013, in terms of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (Act No 39 of 2004) (NEM:AQA). In terms of the MES, existing production facilities were required to comply by 1 April 2015 with existing plant standards, and by 1 April 2020 with new plant standards.
Between 2013 and 2014 Sasol undertook a process to apply for postponements from the 2015 compliance timeframes of the MES. Sasol was granted postponements for a number of its operations by the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO), with the concurrence of its licensing officer. However Sasol will be unable, in certain instances, to timeously meet the compliance requirements of the 2015 MES where postponements have been granted for less than five years, as initially requested. Sasol therefore intends to apply for further postponements.
Sasol’s applications will include a detailed motivation in accordance with the applicable provisions of NEM:AQA. SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., an independent environmental consulting firm, assisted by appropriate independent specialists, were appointed to compile the application and to undertake the independent stakeholder engagement process in support of this application.
