how corporations rule part 1: sasol and south africa’s climate policy

The document examines the relationship between Sasol and the South African government, arguing that the company uses its position within the 'minerals-energy complex' to capture decision-making. It details Sasol's role in promoting carbon-intensive technologies like coal-to-liquid (CTL) and gas-to-liquids (GTL), its lobbying for carbon capture and storage (CCS), and its efforts to avoid legally binding global climate targets while positioning itself as an environmental leader.

• Sasol is a global leader in coal-to-liquid (CTL) technology, which is described as the most carbon-intensive method for producing petrol and diesel. Its Secunda plant is identified as the single largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the world.
• The company maintains a tight relationship with the South African state, operating as part of the 'minerals-energy complex' (MEC). This network of private mining companies, state-owned corporations, and government departments has shaped the country's development since the 19th century.
• Sasol's direct carbon dioxide emissions for its South African operations totaled 52.9 million tons for the year ending June 2011, representing 11% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions. Including indirect emissions from electricity, this figure rose to 61.7 million tons.
• Sasol has influenced national energy policy by secretly advising the Department of Energy on electricity use plans in 2010 and co-launching the South African Coal Roadmap to expand the coal industry and defend it from environmental criticism.
• The company promotes 'false solutions' globally by advocating for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and 'clean coal'. Sasol's influence led to CCS being recognized as a possible technology for the Clean Development Mechanism at the UN climate talks in Cancún.
• Sasol has actively opposed the establishment of legally binding global climate targets, with its former chief executive stating that the impacts of climate change should be fully understood before such targets are set.
• Sasol is expanding into gas-to-liquids (GTL) and shale gas extraction via fracking, including a planned plant on a Canadian shale gas field and exploration rights within South Africa.

APA

Hallowes, D. (2011). how corporations rule part 1: sasol and south africa’s climate policy. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sasol-Report-2.pdf

Chicago

Hallowes, David. how corporations rule part 1: sasol and south africa’s climate policy. Friends of the Earth International, 2011. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sasol-Report-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hallowes |first1=David |title=how corporations rule part 1: sasol and south africa’s climate policy |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=December 2011 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sasol-Report-2.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hallowes2011how, author = {Hallowes, David}, title = {{how corporations rule part 1: sasol and south africa’s climate policy}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2011}, month = dec, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sasol-Report-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }