Sasol Secunda Pollution Deaths Study: Links to 1,000 Annual Fatalities

• A new study links pollution from Sasol's Secunda plant to approximately 1,000 deaths annually, highlighting a substantial public health burden.
• The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) found the plant's emissions cause various health issues, including respiratory illnesses, adverse birth outcomes, and an estimated $1 billion in annual health-related economic damage.
• Sasol's Secunda facility operates under emission exemptions that are less stringent than South Africa's minimum emission standards and significantly higher than international limits in Europe and China.
• The findings reinforce concerns about South Africa's air quality, especially after a 2022 High Court ruling affirmed the public's constitutional right to clean air.
• The study provides critical data that could inform future legal challenges and regulatory reforms aimed at addressing industrial pollution and its health impacts.

The detailed quantification of health burdens, including mortality and specific illnesses, directly links industrial operations to tangible harm, reinforcing the urgency of upholding the constitutional right to clean air.

A recent study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) has linked pollution from Sasol's Secunda plant to approximately 1,000 deaths annually. The comprehensive analysis, titled "The Hidden Costs of Coal-to-Liquids in South Africa," highlights a significant public health burden associated with the facility, which is situated 140 kilometers east of Johannesburg and holds the distinction of being the world's largest single-site emitter of climate-warming gases.

The research indicates that the plant's emissions, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter, contribute to a range of severe health issues. These include increased mortality rates, acute respiratory illnesses, chronic diseases, adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weights and premature births, and broader child health impacts. The study also points to substantial productivity losses resulting from these health challenges.

Based on Sasol's operational data from its most recent financial year, the Secunda complex reported emitting 112,000 tons of sulfur dioxide and 77,000 tons of nitrogen dioxide, alongside thousands of tons of particulate matter. Crea's findings further estimate that the health-related economic damage caused by the plant's operations amounts to approximately $1 billion each year, in addition to thousands of cases of asthma. Alex Anderson, Vice President: Group Communication and Brand Management for Sasol, stated that the company would review the report and provide comment in due course.

The study's findings underscore critical issues within South Africa's environmental regulatory framework, particularly concerning Sasol's Secunda plant. Sasol has been granted specific exemptions from national pollution laws, which are already considerably less stringent than those enforced in regions like Europe and China. Notably, the Secunda facility operates under alternative sulfur dioxide emission limits that are less rigorous than South Africa's own minimum emission standards.

For instance, the plant's stacks are permitted to emit between 1,400 and 1,700 milligrams of sulfur dioxide per normal cubic meter. This contrasts sharply with South Africa's general limit of 1,000 milligrams, and even more dramatically with China's limit of 35 milligrams and the European Union's ceiling of 165 milligrams. This disparity highlights a significant regulatory gap that allows for higher levels of pollution compared to international benchmarks.

This context is particularly relevant given South Africa's status as the most carbon-intensive economy among the G20 nations. The government faces a delicate balancing act, pressured to tighten emission rules while also considering the economic impact on key industries. State-owned Eskom, the primary electricity provider, and Sasol, which produces about a third of the country's motor fuel, are both integral to the national economy. Previous government-commissioned studies have already linked pollution from these two major companies to adverse child health outcomes, and Eskom has previously acknowledged that its emissions contribute to fatalities. A landmark High Court ruling in 2022 further affirmed that the authorities' failure to curb emissions constituted a breach of the public's constitutional right to clean air.

The Crea Sasol Secunda health impact study provides compelling evidence that could significantly influence future environmental litigation and public interest advocacy in South Africa. The detailed quantification of health burdens, including mortality and specific illnesses, directly links industrial operations to tangible harm, reinforcing the urgency of upholding the constitutional right to clean air. The stark comparison of Sasol's emission exemptions with both national minimum emission standards and international benchmarks highlights a systemic issue that could be challenged on legal and ethical grounds.

This renewed scrutiny on Sasol's emission exemptions ZA and the broader regulatory environment signals a potential shift towards stricter enforcement and increased accountability for industrial polluters. Lawyers and compliance officers should take note of the robust data presented, as it strengthens the case for legal action aimed at compelling adherence to more stringent environmental standards. The findings underscore the critical need for South Africa to address the hidden costs of coal-to-liquids, moving beyond economic considerations to prioritize public health and environmental justice.

This study provides significant evidence of public health harm linked to Sasol's Secunda plant, which could be leveraged in environmental litigation or public interest cases. Lawyers and compliance officers should note the renewed scrutiny on emission standards and Sasol's exemptions, as this could lead to stricter regulations or increased legal challenges based on the constitutional right to clean air.

Source: Original reporting via Bloomberg