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As expected, the hydrogen sulphide odours from coal gasifi cation were eliminated when natural gas replaced coal as a feedstock at our Sasolburg operations. Significant efforts are also being made to reduce hydrogen sulphide emissions emanating from the Secunda operation. The sulphur recovery plants are being upgraded to reduce levels of hydrogen sulphide emissions and improved monitoring and control equipment will also be employed as part of this long-term project. 

During the year, we also started implementing a number of interventions aimed at reducing the emissions and associated risks of VOCs. We are making steady progress towards the achievement of our revised and ambitious target of an 80% reduction in VOC emissions on the restated 2009 baseline by the end of June 2020. The projects planned for implementation at Sasol Synfuels from 2010 – 2013, which entail an estimated capital investment cost of more than R3 billion, aim to realise an absolute VOC emissions reduction of approximately 37 000 tons annually. A further reduction of 1 600 tons per annum is also envisaged for Sasol Solvents. 

## Promoting waste minimisation 

This year, Sasol operations generated 69 kilotons (kt) of hazardous waste, representing a 38% decrease on the 

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previous year. An important contributor to this decrease was Sasol Infrachem, where the remedial measures implemented at our Sasol One site in the previous reporting period resulted in a significant reduction in waste in 2010. Over the same period, we generated 454 kt of non-hazardous waste across the group, 54% less than the 697 kt produced in 2009. Contributing to this were the reductions achieved at Sasol Synfuels, resulting mainly from the removal of earthworks in preparation for the new water recovery process, and the fact that no sulpholin liquor was generated this year at the sulphur recovery units due to improved operations. Our successfully implemented natural gas conversion project continues to have a significant impact on the reduction of waste produced, specifi cally with regards to tar and oil waste and ash at our operations in Sasolburg. 

## Managing biodiversity 

Sasol has 3 779 hectares (ha) of land that it owns or leases for production activities or extractive purposes. In addition, Sasol Mining occupies 43 941 ha of underground mining area and 1 284 ha of land for surface mining. In total, Sasol rehabilitated 1 689 ha in 2010. The total area of land dedicated for conservation and biodiversity purposes at the end of the reporting period amounted to 3 869 ha. We do not have operations in areas that have been declared biodiversity hotspots (critical or endangered eco-regions), but we do have interests in areas of potential sensitivity, particularly in our upstream exploration and extraction activities. In accordance with our group-wide SH&E minimum requirements, the protection of biodiversity is addressed formally in new projects through environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and in existing projects through environmental management programmes. We are also working to assess the biodiversity of the habitats in 

land currently owned, leased or managed by the group. 

## Product stewardship: managing the impacts of our products 

We have a formalised global support structure to ensure an ordered, group- wide response to product stewardship. This includes a strong focus on internal and external capacity-building activities, particularly within our South African business units where we have developed various product-specifi c training programmes for our customers and employees. We contribute to the development of, and will adopt, the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). 

We have developed various product- specific training programmes for customers and employees. Our Sasol Polymers chlor vinyls division, for example, provides training programmes on the management of different hazardous chemicals, with a particular focus on the handling, use and disposal of sodium cyanide, a high-risk product used in South Africa’s gold mining industry. Another objective of these training initiatives is to create awareness with regard to Sasol’s policy on sodium cyanide which includes the delivery of products to dedicated, approved storage tank facilities by trained personnel under constant supervision, and mandatory training for all personnel involved with handling. 

SD 

Our more detailed sustainable development report reviews some of our product-related activities, as well as case studies on building capacity in product stewardship in South Africa, the new Sasol centre to drive fuels research, pioneering alternative jet fuel technology, and our life cycle assessments of liquid transportation fuels. 

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