CREA HIA points to large local health burden from Sasol Secunda
On the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2026, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) published a health impact assessment (HIA) focused on the Sasol Secunda coal-to-liquids facility. The study places the plant at the centre of a heavy local health burden in the Highveld Priority Area, a region already designated for targeted air quality management because of persistently poor air.
Sasol Secunda Operations, a long-established industrial complex in the Highveld, was estimated to have emitted about 112 kilotonnes of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) in 2024, along with significant amounts of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S). The report says the facility’s emissions are responsible for the characteristic ‘rotten egg’ smell experienced by residents and that polluted air can travel as far as Johannesburg and Pretoria, roughly 150 kilometres away.
“CREA’s analysis shows that emissions from Sasol Secunda contributed to an estimated 1,000 deaths and about 1,100 preterm births in 2024,”
The HIA attributes approximately 1,000 deaths to particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) linked to the facility’s operations. CREA estimates these deaths correspond to around 23,800 years of life lost across the exposed population. Beyond mortality, the report documents long-term suffering: children face increased risks of asthma and adverse birth outcomes, while preterm births and low birthweight carry implications for families, schooling and future health.
Local consequences and economic estimate
For Secunda and neighbouring towns, the assessment underlines a difficult trade-off between industrial employment and public health. CREA places a monetary value on the health and economic impacts, estimating an annual cost of USD1.0 billion (about R19 billion) attributable to Sasol Secunda’s emissions in 2024.
| Measure | 2024 estimate |
|---|---|
| SO₂ emissions | 112 kt |
| Attributed deaths | 1,000 |
| Years of life lost | 23,800 |
| Preterm births | 1,100 |
| Economic cost | USD1.0 billion (R19 billion) |
Recommendations and local policy implications
CREA recommends that the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment review Sasol Secunda’s alternative SO₂ limits and consider their impacts on air quality, population exposure and health. The report also calls for binding annual emissions reductions across the plant’s operations.
For Secunda, those recommendations have immediate policy implications. Local health services already manage respiratory and chronic conditions linked to air pollution. A change in permitted limits or mandatory reductions would affect how Sasol plans operations, and could influence job security, energy outputs and compliance costs.
- Residents: increased attention on respiratory illness, childhood asthma and birth outcomes.
- Health services: potential rise in demand for care related to pollution-linked illness.
- Industry and jobs: any regulatory tightening will need to balance worker security with public health obligations.
As a long-standing employer and energy producer in the region, Sasol’s future choices on emissions control, monitoring and community engagement will determine whether Secunda can reduce the harms identified by CREA while retaining industrial activity. The report adds weight to calls for transparent monitoring, stronger air quality enforcement in the Highveld Priority Area and clearer plans to protect vulnerable groups, especially children and pregnant people.
Local authorities, health services and industry will now need to consider the CREA findings as the basis for public consultation and action. For Secunda residents living with the daily odour and long-term health risks, the HIA provides a quantified snapshot of impacts that could shape regulatory decisions in the months ahead.
