Johannesburg, South Africa – Sustainability is central to Sasol’s strategy with a future ambition to be at net zero emissions by 2050. This is in line with the company’s commitment to accelerate its transition to a low carbon world in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
This was reflected at its 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on Friday, 19 November 2021, where the company received overwhelming support for its first non-binding advisory resolution related to Future Sasol and decarbonising the business. Preceded by extensive stakeholder engagement over the year, Sasol tabled the resolution at the AGM to endorse the company’s 2021 Climate Change Report (CCR), which sets out Sasol’s climate change ambition, targets and actions.
The resolution passed with 96,63% of shareholder votes in favour, highlighting the importance investors are placing on Environmental, Social and Governance matters.
“Climate change management is central to our strategy. Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, transforming our operations and shifting our portfolio to products more suited to a low-carbon world are the cornerstones of our strategic plans, with further granularity to be provided as we progress more on this journey,” said Vuyo Kahla, Sasol Executive Vice President for Strategy, Sustainability and Integrated Services.
“Our Future Sasol strategy and our decarbonisation plan is a reflection of extensive stakeholder engagements undertaken in recent years, which have helped to shape our thinking and approach. We are grateful to our shareholders for the support as reflected in the passing of this resolution,” concluded Kahla.
In summary, the CCR presents the following:
- Sasol’s support for the goals of Articles 2.1(a) and 4.1 of the Paris Agreement, as set out in its 2030 and 2050 emission reduction roadmaps, in particular it’s just transition plans towards a low carbon future “holding the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1,5°C above pre-industrial levels”;
- Sasol’s short-, medium- and long-term quantitative GHG reduction targets (scope 1 and 2) in support of the goals of Articles 2.1(a) and 4.1 of the Paris Agreement for its operations in Eurasia, the United States and South Africa; and
- Sasol’s medium- and long-term quantitative GHG reduction targets (scope 3: category 11*) and commitment to continue work to set out its scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions’ baseline and other targets.
*Relates to the use of the Company’s sold products and represents approximately 80% of its total scope 3 emissions.
Sasol committed to a 2050 net zero ambition at its Capital Markets Day held on 22 September 2021. In aligning with this 2050 ambition, the company also announced a tripling of its 2030 scope 1 and 2 GHG emission reduction target from 10% to 30% for our Energy and Chemicals business units. Based on detailed assessments and modelling, the 2030 target can be delivered without divestments and offsets, but through the direct decarbonisation of its existing assets.
Beyond 2030, Sasol has more than one viable pathway to get to its net zero ambition by 2050, with different options to transform its Southern Africa value chain by progressively shifting feedstock away from coal, towards, green hydrogen and sustainable carbon over the longer term, as economics improve for these options.
Other resolutions tabled, including the non-binding advisory resolutions pertaining to Sasol’s remuneration policy and implementation, were all passed with significant support reflected in the votes received. The results of all resolutions tabled at the AGM are available here.
Forward Looking statements
Sasol may, in this document, make certain statements that are not historical facts that relate to analyses and other information which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements may also relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding exchange rate fluctuations, volume growth, increases in market share, total shareholder return, executing our growth projects (including LCCP), oil and gas reserves and cost reductions, including in connection with our BPEP, RP and our business performance outlook. Words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend", “seek”, “will”, “plan”, “could”, “may”, “endeavour”, “target”, “forecast” and “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and there are risks that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. You should understand that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors are discussed more fully in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed on 28 August 2018 and in other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The list of factors discussed therein is not exhaustive; when relying on forward-looking statements to make investment decisions, you should carefully consider both these factors and other uncertainties and events. Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Please note: One billion is defined as one thousand million. bbl – barrel, bscf – billion standard cubic feet, mmscf – million standard cubic feet, oil references brent crude, mmboe – million barrels oil equivalent. All references to years refer to the financial year 30 June. Any reference to a calendar year is prefaced by the word “calendar”.