Search Climate Insights Directory
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The South African Green Hydrogen TVET Ecosystem Just Transition Strategic Framework
The report outlines a strategic framework to transition South Africa's TVET system toward a green hydrogen economy (GHE). It identifies critical gaps in current vocational training, such as low throughput and poor industry alignment, and proposes a 'demand-led' model using Centres of Specialisation (CoS). Through four quantitative scenarios, the report forecasts that an 'All-inclusive Portfolio' of domestic use and exports would maximize GDP growth and TVET job creation by 2050. Key recommendations include developing a Green Skills Master Plan, implementing nano-credentialing, and reskilling workers from sunset industries like coal mining into growth sectors such as platinum mining and green steel.
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Document type: Report
Understanding the Role of Subsidies in South Africa’s Coal-Based Liquid Fuel Sector
The document examines how market price support and carbon tax exemptions sustain Sasol's coal-to-liquid operations in South Africa. It estimates that in 2019, these support measures totaled ZAR 8.05 billion, contributing to carbon lock-in and significant environmental externalities, including the operation of the world's largest single point source of greenhouse gases.
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Document type: Policy brief
EXPERT ANALYSIS OF THE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS AND HEALTH EFFECTS DUE TO THE EMISSIONS FROM ESKOMS KENDAL POWER STATION
The Centre for Environmental Rights submitted two expert reports to the South African government detailing severe particulate matter (PM) limit exceedances and associated health impacts at Eskom's Kendal power station. Dr. Ron Sahu's analysis found 2,712 PM exceedances between April 2016 and March 2020, noting that electrostatic precipitators are failing. Dr. Andrew Gray's report estimates that emissions caused between 61 and 144 premature deaths annually between 2018 and 2019 and severely exceeded WHO air quality guidelines for SO2, PM2.5, and NOx in the Highveld Priority Area, particularly affecting sensitive receptors like primary schools.
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Document type: Statement
WP1 Summary report: Optimising waste biomass supply for production of sustainable aviation fuel in South Africa
The report finds that South Africa has sufficient waste biomass to meet the potential demand of Sasol's Secunda plant, with availability estimated at 2 to 4 times the maximum potential demand. Garden waste and sawdust are identified as the lowest-risk feedstocks. Fuel rods are the most cost-competitive densification option for woody biomass, while white pellets are cheapest for soft biomass. The study concludes that biomass feedstock would be 3-4 times more expensive than coal, though this could be offset by SAF premiums and carbon tax liabilities.
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Document type: Report
REGULATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING AND ENFORCING THE HIGHVELD PRIORITY AREA AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN (2012)
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) argues that the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) has failed to improve air quality since its 2007 declaration, leaving residents in breach of their constitutional right to a healthy environment. The CER highlights that the 2012 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) remains a mere guideline due to a lack of implementing regulations and the granting of 'rolling postponements' for minimum emission standards to major polluters like Eskom and Sasol. The CER demands the publication of enforcement regulations, a final Mid-Term Review of the AQMP, and a cessation of emission standard postponements to meet the 2020 goal of reducing industrial emissions.
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Document type: Statement
Planning for employment effects of climate change in the chemicals and chemical products sub-sector
The document analyzes how biophysical climate impacts and international trade shifts threaten employment in South Africa's chemicals sub-sector, while identifying job creation potential through mitigation and adaptation interventions.
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Document type: Research paper
RELEVANT INFORMATION IN RELATION TO THE DRAFT INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN FOR ELECTRICITY UPDATE & THE DRAFT INTEGRATED ENERGY PLAN
The Centre for Environmental Rights, on behalf of the Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle Campaign, urges the Portfolio Committee on Energy to compel the Department of Energy to release key technical data and conduct fair public consultations before finalising the IRP Update and IEP. The submission highlights the Department's failure to respond to PAIA requests for modelling assumptions and tariff implications. It further argues that the current planning ignores the health and water costs of coal, the emissions of nitrous oxide from CFB technology, and the financial viability of new coal and nuclear plants. Citing studies by Meridian Economics and the Frankfurt Institute, the document asserts that accelerating the decommissioning of older coal stations and prioritising wind and solar PV is the most cost-effective path for South Africa's energy future.
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Document type: Statement
BROKEN PROMISES
The report concludes that the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) has failed to improve air quality over the decade since its 2007 declaration. Despite the 2012 air quality management plan, ambient air quality remains out of compliance with health-based standards, largely due to industrial non-compliance and government failure in monitoring and enforcement. The authors highlight a deterioration in the monitoring network, inadequate dust control for mining, and a lack of resources and skilled staff within local municipalities. The report specifically criticizes the National Air Quality Officer for granting compliance postponements to major polluters Eskom and Sasol, arguing that this has hindered pollution reduction and violated the constitutional rights of residents.
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Document type: Report
MONEY TALKS
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) reports that PAIA is poorly implemented in South Africa, with public bodies frequently refusing environmental information requests by citing the protection of third-party commercial interests. While some departments like the DEA show consistency, others like the DMR and various municipalities exhibit high refusal rates and poor response times. The report highlights a specific lack of transparency regarding oil refinery atmospheric emission licences and details litigation used to compel the disclosure of environmental records from corporate polluters.
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Document type: Report
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.
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Document type: Case study
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.
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Document type: Case study
00206BB9DB98190509101147
The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) of South Africa responded to a request from the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) to develop regulations for the implementation of the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). The DEA declined this request, stating that the AQMP is a collaborative plan rather than a regulation and that existing air quality management tools are sufficient. The document also provides a detailed response to the 'Broken Promises' report, outlining progress in air quality governance, monitoring, and intergovernmental cooperation within the HPA.
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Document type: Statement
2014-05-30-fa48-sasol-h2s-proposal-a20a27011aaef7b4.pdf
This report by Sasol outlines the company's proposal to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) regarding hydrogen sulphide (H2S) emission standards for its Synfuels facility in Secunda. Sasol argues that the published 2010 standard of 1,000 mg/Nm³ is unachievable within the required timeframes due to technical constraints, the uniqueness of the Sasol process, and market limitations for sulphuric acid. The company proposes alternative standards based on stack averaging and specific points of compliance to ensure practical and sustainable air quality improvement.
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Document type: Report
sasol’s submission on the requirement fcr existing plants to meet new plant standards as well as other concerns reiating to the Listed Activities and Minimum Emission standards
Sasol argues that retrofitting old plants to meet new emission standards is often technically impossible due to space and configuration constraints, and economically unjustifiable given the negligible impact on ambient air quality in some areas. The company highlights conflicts between air quality standards and national energy efficiency and waste strategies, while calling for extended compliance timelines and greater regulatory certainty across national, provincial, and local government tiers.
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Document type: Statement
fa72-report-prepared-by-sasol-infrachem-dated-april-2014-96a1d5f3cba39bb0.pdf
This April 2014 report is a draft motivation by Sasol Infrachem for exemption from the default application of certain Minimum Emissions Standards (MES) published in Government Notice No. 893 (GN 893) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (NEMAQA). Sasol Infrachem argues that strict compliance with certain existing and new plant standards is technically or financially unachievable for specific point sources at its Sasolburg complex. The document proposes alternative emissions limits as license conditions and provides an Atmospheric Impact Report (AIR) to demonstrate that these alternatives maintain ambient air quality within National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
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Document type: Report
KM_C654e-20190503152933
This document is a pollution prevention plan submission by Sasol South Africa (Pty) Limited and Sasol Mining (Pty) Limited. It details the company's production processes for liquid fuels, chemicals, ammonia, and nitric acid, alongside its coal mining operations. The report provides greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data for 2015 and 2016, the methodologies used for these calculations, and a list of mitigation interventions aimed at reducing GHG intensity through energy efficiency and process improvements.
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Document type: Report