Sasol Integrated Report 2024 - Book - Page 61
INTRODUCTION
ABOUT SASOL
STRATEGIC OVERVIEW
BUSINESSES
ESG
DATA AND ASSURANCE / ADMINISTRATION
REMUNERATION REPORT
SASOL ENERGY BUSINESS continued
MINING, GAS, OPERATIONS AND FUELS
continued
SAFETY
PERFORMANCE
SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE
We remain steadfast in our commitment to pursue a workplace with Zero
Harm
We believe leadership is imperative to sustain safety. Regrettably in 2024 we had five
fatalities, three at Mining and two at Secunda Operations (SO). We unfortunately
experienced an additional fatality at SO in August 2024. Our focus remains on
understanding the underlying causes resulting in these tragic fatalities in order to
prevent future ones.
Our approach includes all employees, service providers and stakeholders to make sure
we can achieve a safe workplace environment. Our focus on process safety will remain
a high priority in light of the risk profiles of our major operating entities. Our safety,
health and environment (SHE) Risk Management and assurance practices will be
enhanced via the implementation of an integrated SHE system enabling and directing
future focus areas in addition to our full suite of leading and lagging indicators.
MINING
Total mining productivity for 2024 of 983 t/cm/s was 3% higher than 2023. The improvement
was mainly due to the benefits of our ongoing full potential programme partly offset by the
safety-related incidents and other operational challenges experienced during the year. Saleable
production for 2024 did, however, decline by 2% compared to 2023 mainly due to a reduction in
mining sections as well as increased discards from our export beneficiation plant. The reduction in
sections was due to the merging of sections in line with our strategy to improve overall coal quality
(walk-on-walk-off sections).
The external coal purchasing programme to supplement our own production continues to help
meet SO demand and quality requirements, as well as to maintain the coal stockpile at targeted
levels. External coal purchases for 2024 decreased by 2% compared to 2023.
Export sales volumes improved by 5% compared to 2023, driven by increased production at
our Thubelisha colliery and improved Transnet Freight Rail performance.
GAS
In Mozambique, the early commencement of production from the PSA Initial Gas Facility (IGF)
in May 2024 following the necessary approval from the Government of Mozambique resulted in our
total gas production increasing by 6% compared to the prior year. Natural gas and Methane
rich gas sales volumes in South Africa increased by 4% and 7% respectively compared to prior year
driven by higher production and external customer demand.
OPERATIONS
Secunda Operations’ production volumes were 7,0 mt and 1% higher than 2023 mainly due to
a phase shutdown in 2024 relative to a total shutdown in 2023. We continue to focus on improving
overall equipment availability and operational performance to increase production.
Our Natref refinery achieved an average run rate of 519 m³/h in 2024 and 3% higher than 2023
due to improved refinery availability during the year. Our performance in Q1 2024 was negatively
impacted by eight hot tapping incidents on the crude oil pipeline. Through collaboration efforts
with key stakeholders, we responded and reduced hot tapping incidents for the rest of the year
to only one.
ORYX GTL performance in 2024 was impacted by the extended shutdown of both trains
which required extensive repairs. As a result, the utilisation rate as a % of nameplate capacity
was only 50% for the year. Train 2 successfully commenced operations in April 2024, while Train 1,
now fully operational, completed repairs in June 2024.
FUELS
Liquid fuels sales volumes for 2024 were 4% lower than 2023 due to a combination of continued
challenges in the South African diesel market and the planned optimisation of inventory after
the low closing inventory in 2023. Growth in Retail and Commercial sales channels helped to
enhance overall margins.
SASOL INTEGRATED REPORT 2024
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