The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) recently published a report that attributes significant health and economic impacts to emissions from Sasol’s Secunda operations. We recognise the importance of these issues and the legitimate public interest they attract.

Strong conclusions require strong evidence. Complex air quality and health impact studies can be highly sensitive to underlying assumptions, input data, source attribution methodologies and modelling choices. Scientific findings of this nature therefore require careful scrutiny and independent verification before being accepted as established fact.

Sasol’s preliminary review of the CREA report has identified several areas that warrant further examination and validation, including the use of historical emissions data for certain pollutants, the application of meteorological data from a different period to the reporting year assessed, assumptions relating to source allocation and the treatment of uncertainty. These observations do not predetermine the review outcome but reinforce the importance of independent verification.

Sasol believes an independent third-party review of the CREA report is necessary to assess the emissions inventory, modelling assumptions, source attribution methodology, health impact calculations, baseline data and uncertainty ranges used in the assessment. Sasol intends to conduct this review over the coming months and engage CREA as part of the process.

During Sasol’s appeal to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for a load-based limit for sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from its boilers at the Secunda steam plants towards the end of 2023, an independent review of CREA’s data provided at the time, identified significant differences in methodology, assumptions and calculations that materially influenced CREA’s conclusions. This was considered by the Minister’s appointed independent advisory panel, which ultimately informed the Minister’s granting of the requested alternative dispensation. This prior robustness testing reinforces the importance of complete, transparent and independently verifiable scientific analysis when evaluating matters in the public interest.

Sasol remains committed to improving ambient air quality and managing associated health impacts. Since 2015, Sasol has invested more than R9.5 billion in emission-abatement initiatives and implemented numerous air quality improvement projects across its operations. These include particulate matter abatement technology on boilers, low-NOx burners on boilers and gas turbines, the decommissioning of bio-sludge and high organic water incinerators, volatile organic compound reduction projects, and boiler turndown initiatives that support further emission reductions.

These investments have enabled compliance with the applicable Minimum Emission Standards for particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and the vast majority of regulated emission sources across our operations. We continue to comply with the emission requirements in our atmospheric emission licences, including implementation of the integrated emissions-reduction solution undertaken as part of Sasol’s Clause 12A application and appeal.

Our latest disclosures are available in Sasol’s 2026 annual reporting suite at https://www.sasol.com/investor-centre/integrated-reports.