Methods & Concepts

Secunda and Sasolburg are directly and indirectly linked to many different upstream and downstream sectors and activities.

In the analysis in this project, it has not been possible to explore each of these activities to the same level of detail. More focus is thus placed on the value chain activities most closely interlinked with the Sasol and Secunda facilities, as well as those that have the potential to play more important roles in determining the decarbonisation pathways for the sector.

Upstream are suppliers of primary inputs. The following are considered in this study, recognising that there are a wide range of other inputs to production:

• Coal mines, which provide the primary process feedstock to Secunda, as well as a source of energy for both facilities.
• Gas fields and associated gas transport and pipeline infrastructure which provide process and energy inputs to both facilities.
• The national electricity generation infrastructure, which is currently largely coal-fired, and the national electricity grid.

In future, the make-up of upstream inputs will change as the facilities decarbonise. Future inputs are likely to include:

• Green hydrogen as an energy carrier and process feedstock. This could either be produced by Sasol or by an independent supplier.
• Sustainable sources of carbon as a feedstock for producing green hydrogen derivatives.
• Grid electricity supplied from renewable technologies, complemented by Sasol’s own generation as well as direct purchases from renewable electricity generators which are wheeled through the grid.

Downstream are the intermediate and end users of Sasol’s products, as well as the industries whose futures depend on the evolution of the petrochemicals value chain. Here the study considers the following activities:

• The transport sector and liquid fuels, including demand-side decarbonisation options.
• Chemicals markets and chemicals production by companies other than Sasol