Nonprofit organisation Just Share says it will assess its options after new Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Deon George’s decision on the outstanding aspect of Sasol’s sulphur dioxide (SO₂) minimum emission standards (MES) appeal.

Just Share notes that while George refused Sasol’s request to retain the SO₂ limit in its current atmospheric emission licence (AEL), Sasol was granted a limit that does not require it to take any steps to reduce its SO₂ pollution.

Just Share says it had opposed Sasol’s appeal, noting that it had submitted evidence that showed that granting the appeal would result in about 50% to 130% higher negative impacts on human health than if Sasol complied with the legislated SO₂ MES of 1 000 mg/Nm³.

Just Share argues that the provision on which Sasol relied to seek an ‘alternative emission limit’ – paragraph 12A of the list of activities – does not “empower it to pollute at levels higher than the legislated limit beyond March 31, 2025.”

Just Share says the 1 000 mg/Nm³ SO₂ limit is already substantially weaker than the equivalent standards in other developing countries, such as India and China, and that Sasol has had significant time within which to come into compliance.

The organisation says all parties have 180 days within which to challenge the appeal decisions through judicial review.

To inform Just Share’s decision in this regard, the organisation notes that it requires access to various reports that were taken into account in making the appeal decisions. 

These documents, which the organisation says have not been provided to it, include the opinion of Professor Halton Cheadle on the interpretation of paragraph 12A; the report/s of Dr Lisa Ramsay, who provided the National Environmental Consultative and Advisory (NECA) Forum with technical assistance; the submissions and additional information provided by the NAQO after her responding statement; the reports of the NECA Forum that informed former Environment Minister Barbara Creecy and George’s decisions.

Just Share adds that it also requires the reports of the SO₂ expert panel established in September 2019 to provide strategic and technical guidance towards effective management of SO₂ emissions from old and existing plants; and additional information Sasol provided to former Environment Minister Barbara Creecy regarding its investment in energy efficiency projects.