Sasol slammed for Indonesia plan

Johannesburg - Sasol's agreement with the government of Indonesia to test the viability of a coal-to-liquids project has infuriated environmentalists, especially as it is timed just days before the start of a UN summit on climate change.

The petrochemical giant announced on Friday it has signed a memorandum of understanding to bring it closer to a screening study into the viability of an integrated coal-to-liquids project in Indonesia, using Sasol's proprietary technology.

The week-long UN summit, to be held in Copenhagen, will table new agreements in a bid to prevent adverse climate changes and global warming. It is hoped its end result will be a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol, which runs out in 2012.

"Clearly the South African government and Sasol's trajectory (by bringing these projects on line) makes a mockery of Copenhagen," said Bobby Peek, director of local non-profit environmental lobby group Groundwork. "We need to remember that Sasol does what it does internationally with the blessing of the South African government."

Tristen Taylor, project coordinator of Earthlife Africa's Johannesburg branch, was equally dismayed by news of the signing, labelling it "simply unacceptable".

According to Taylor, for every 100 carbon atoms that enter a coal-to-liquids plant 70 go up the smokestack and into the atmosphere. Essentially "petroleum is a byproduct", he said.

Sasol has been under constant fire from environmentalists for operating the single largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world at its Secunda plant (also a coal-to-liquids facility).

As a result, the petro giant has been consistently voted one of the most environmentally unfriendly companies. For one, Angrymermaid.org has the firm up for an Angry Mermaid award as one of eight companies or lobby groups which has done the most to block effective action to tackle climate change.

- Fin24.com