Kroonstad, Free State – Sasol, in collaboration with DP World, the Road Incident Management System (RIMS) and the Moqhaka Local Municipality emergency management services, conducted a legally required Emergency Response Simulation Exercise on 25 June 2026 in Kroonstad on the N1 north near the R34 off-ramp.

The exercise simulated a multi-vehicle hazardous materials incident involving a Sasol fuel tanker and a cyanide tanker that blocked multiple lanes, bringing traffic to a complete standstill. The scenario was designed to escalate into a complex, prolonged emergency requiring multi-agency coordination, hazardous materials management, traffic control, public safety measures and environmental protection.

As part of Sasol’s duty of care and its legal obligation to ensure robust emergency preparedness, this exercise formed a critical component of the company’s emergency management programme. Regular emergency exercises are required by law and industry best practice to confirm that all role players are ready to respond swiftly and effectively to real incidents, safeguarding people, property and the environment. 

“The initiative was aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness, improving response effectiveness, and enhancing multi-stakeholder coordination and I am delighted to confirm that we achieved our objectives. The role players were able to identify learnings that can be implemented to enhance procedures to be followed during a real incident,” said Christian Herrmann, Sasol Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales Energy and Chemicals Southern Africa.

Emergency exercises of this nature enable Sasol and its partners to test established plans under realistic conditions, clarify roles and responsibilities, and ensure that responders can take rapid, coordinated action when every minute counts. They also help to verify compliance with regulatory requirements and demonstrate Sasol’s ongoing commitment to safe operations and responsible transport of hazardous materials.

According to Herrmann, it is Sasol’s duty of care to keep communities informed and prepared for emergencies that could arise. In line with this commitment, Sasol also held a community roadshow on 24 June 2026, where they engaged residents, first responders and key stakeholders. The event raised awareness about dangerous goods transportation and emergency response procedures, promoted coordinated action during incidents and strengthened relationships between industry, emergency services and communities. 

“Sasol, DP World, RIMS and the Moqhaka Local Municipality emergency management services thank the community of Kroonstad and road users on the N1 who were impacted during the exercise for their participation. Your presence played a major role in understanding how the public will be impacted during an incident. You made a valuable contribution to improve the way real incidents of this nature will be handled in future,” said Herrmann.