cómo gobiernan las grandes empresas parte 1: sasol y la política climática de sudáfrica

The document examines Sasol, a global leader in coal-to-liquid (CTL) technology, and its systemic influence over South African energy policy. It details how Sasol's integration into the 'minerals and energy complex' (MEC) and its presence in official government delegations to UN climate negotiations allow it to promote 'false solutions' like carbon capture and storage (CCS) while opposing legally binding climate agreements. The report also highlights Sasol's expansion into shale gas in Canada and South Africa, and its role as a major emitter of greenhouse gases.

• Sasol is a global leader in coal-to-liquid (CTL) technology, which is identified as the most carbon-intensive method for producing gasoline and diesel. Its Secunda plant is noted as the single largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the world.
• The company maintains an exceptionally close relationship with the South African government, with Sasol officials included in the official national delegation to UN climate negotiations in Durban. Furthermore, the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is Sasol's largest shareholder.
• Sasol exerts significant influence over national energy planning through its membership in the 'minerals and energy complex' (MEC). The company secretly advised the Department of Energy on electricity use plans and co-published a 'Coal Roadmap for South Africa' to expand the coal industry.
• Sasol promotes specific commercial opportunities it labels as climate solutions, specifically 'clean coal' and carbon capture and storage (CCS). It has lobbied for CCS to be recognized as an appropriate technology for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) during UN negotiations in Cancun.
• The company's direct carbon dioxide emissions from South African operations totaled 52.9 million tonnes for the year ending June 2011, representing 11% of South Africa's total greenhouse gas emissions. Including indirect emissions from electricity, this figure rises to 61.7 million tonnes.
• Sasol is expanding into gas-to-liquids (GTL) and shale gas, including plans for a conversion plant in Canada. The document notes that the hydraulic fracturing required for this is toxic, energy-intensive, and prone to methane leaks.
• Sasol's leadership has expressed opposition to legally binding global climate agreements, arguing that the impacts of climate change must be fully understood before setting hard targets.

APA

Hallowes, D. (2011). cómo gobiernan las grandes empresas parte 1: sasol y la política climática de sudáfrica. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sasol-Report-for-web-Spanish.pdf

Chicago

Hallowes, David. cómo gobiernan las grandes empresas parte 1: sasol y la política climática de sudáfrica. Friends of the Earth International, 2011. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sasol-Report-for-web-Spanish.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hallowes |first1=David |title=cómo gobiernan las grandes empresas parte 1: sasol y la política climática de sudáfrica |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=December 2011 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sasol-Report-for-web-Spanish.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hallowes2011cmo, author = {Hallowes, David}, title = {{cómo gobiernan las grandes empresas parte 1: sasol y la política climática de sudáfrica}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2011}, month = dec, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sasol-Report-for-web-Spanish.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }