Coal Giant Scrambles to Run on Gas and Hydrogen in South Africa

Near-term priorities are increasing coal quality, finding gas
Sasol runs world’s biggest emissions site for greenhouse gas

An employee inspects electrolyzer cells at the Sasol Ltd. Sasol One liquid fuels facility in Sasolburg, South Africa, on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2023. Sasol, South Africa’s second-biggest producer of greenhouse gases, set a target of cutting its emissions of climate-warming pollutants by 30% by 2030 and said it aims to have net-zero emissions by 2050.Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg

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By Paul Burkhardt

April 13, 2023 at 3:00 AM UTC

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South Africa’s second-biggest emitter aims to be among the continent’s biggest buyers of renewable energy — but for now Sasol Ltd. remains firmly tied to fossil fuels.

The company that made its name producing synthetic fuel and chemicals from coal, aims to reach net zero by 2050. That plan has been criticized as vague by activists and unrealistic by some analysts. OPEC’s recent surprise production cut may also spur some energy companies to revisit their green goals in light of higher oil prices, which largely determine the value of Sasol’s products.