ADOPTED REPORT STUDY TOUR TO
SASOLBURG AND SECUNDA
10-11 August 2006.
The
Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology, having conducted a study tour to
Sasolburg and Secunda from 10 – 11 August 2005, reports as follows:
Members Present:
The delegation,
under the leadership of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Hon. E N N
Ngcobo (ANC), included Hon. S Dithebe (ANC), Hon. F Mahomed (ANC), Hon. B T
Ngcobo (ANC), Hon. S N Nxumalo (ANC), Hon. J P I Blanche (DA), Hon. A M Dreyer
(DA), Hon. H J Bekker (IFP), Hon. P J Nefolovhodwe (AZAPO)
Apologies:
Hon. A R
Ainslie (ANC), Prof I J Mohamed (ANC), Hon. B J Mnyandu (ANC), Hon. M J Bhengu
(IFP), Hon. V C Gore (ID) and Hon. N T Godi (PAC)
Supporting Staff:
Ms Z Jansen
(Committee Secretary).
Background:
Sasol’s technologies in the field of
Gas-to-Liquid production were recently in the international limelight with the
opening of the Oryx GTL project in
Purpose / objective for the study
tour:
The objective of the study tour was
for Members of the Portfolio Committee of Science and Technology to familiarize
themselves with the technologies that Sasol has developed over the years in
particular Sasol’s Research and Development Activities and its Manufacturing
Plants. It was also an opportunity for Members of the PC to interact with Sasol
on issues pertaining to the PC oversight function such as issues related to scarce
skills and skills development.
10 –
Sasol delegation briefed
the PC on the following:
·
Sasol’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) objectives in Liquid Fuels
Business is to increase and create new business and meaningful participation of
broad-based groups such as communities, rural woman and youth groups.
·
·
It is the leading beneficiator of coal to synfuels and petrochemicals.
·
It was pointed out that for Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative South
Africa (ASGISA) to succeed the energy sector has to meet the following
challenges:-
1. Close the gap between investment
required and domestic capital available.
2. Close the gap between South African
fuel demand and supply.
3. Close the gap between demand for
diesel and ability for crude oil refineries to supply.
4. Close the supply gap of
transportation energy needs to inland area.
·
In order to close the energy gap Sasol would have to expand their
coastal crude oil refineries, import refined products, invest in a new coastal
refinery and invest in
·
In its global activities, it has identified 2 sites in
The following formed part
of the discussion:
·
PC: Has Sasol made any
progress in the Hydrogen Economy?
Sasol: Produces the cheapest
hydrogen in the world however, there is a problem transporting it and in
generating it, it gives off Carbon Dioxide which is dangerous.
·
PC: How much electricity do
they use?
Sasol: Use electricity
equivalent to that of two cities the size of
·
PC: How long would the gas
reserves in
Sasol: Gas reserves should last
for 40 years; however they are doing further exploration. Pointed out that the
issue is not how long the coal would last but whether it will be within
economic developments.
·
PC: What will happen to the
equipment when the gas reserves have depleted?
Sasol: In terms of the
agreement,
·
PC: Do they have a problem
with staff retention?
Sasol: Experience a problem with
scarcity of skills and retaining their staff. To overcome this challenge, the
Group Executive decided that they will be doubling their budget allocated for
bursaries.
·
PC: What percentage of
managers, students and staff are women?
Sasol: 12% of managers are
women, 32% of their staff and students are women.
·
PC: Do they have a disaster
management plan for their site as well as the communities surrounding the site.
Do they take into account employees mental state after accidents occurred on
the site?
Sasol: Safety has become a way
of life for all staff at Sasol. All staff receive rescue training and before
each shift starts there is safety training. Sasol has emergency pre-planning
for high-risk areas which is linked to government’s disaster plan.
·
PC: Whom does the Safety
Committee comprise of?
Sasol: The Safety Committee
comprises of two union representatives and six managers, however when they vote
on any issue. Employees and mangers are equal. They also have a style of
management where everyone’s input is taken into account.
·
PC: As petrol prices are
soaring is Sasol looking at manufacturing vehicles that use gas.
Sasol: Prototype vehicles using
gas have been manufactured. Sasol is exploring the possibility of using
hydrogen, however there is the problem of carbon dioxide explained previously.
Recommendations:
·
PC: Recommended that Sasol
send some of their students to other countries to obtain relevant skills.
Sasol: Their Chief Executive
Officer worked with the Deputy President of
·
PC: Recommended that a
national workshop on skills development be held and all the necessary
stakeholders such as Agriculture (re: veterinary sciences), Minerals and Energy
(re: technicians and artisans for the chemical industry), Labor (re: Seta’s)
Education (re: skills training) and Science and Technology (re: technical
skills development) be invited. The workshop should focus on the challenges
Acknowledgements:
The
Committee wishes to thank all the people that it met and interacted with during
the study tour. The hospitality accorded to the Delegation made the task of the
Committee much easier and affordable.
Report to be considered
Chairperson