Sasol’s journey towards sustainable development through academic partnerships
In today’s episode, have invited Tanya Hughes, Manager Capacity Building at Sasol, one of South Africa’s leading energy and chemical companies. Discover how Sasol partners with universities to drive innovation, advance research, and develop cutting-edge technologies.
Tanya provides fascinating insights into how these collaborations benefit both students and industry professionals, fostering a symbiotic relationship that propels the energy sector forward.
In this article, we summarise part of that conversation, but you can listen to the full interview in our podcast:
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Sasol Limited is an integrated energy and chemical company based in South Africa, and one of the country’s largest companies. Sasol operates in 32 countries and has a diverse portfolio, which includes the production of synthetic fuels, chemicals, and electricity. The company is particularly known for its innovative use of coal and natural gas in the production of liquid fuels, chemicals, and electricity.
Collaborative PhD programs
Sasol’s PhD pipeline is heavily supported by bursaries given to both undergraduate and postgraduate students in chemistry and chemical engineering. This support extends to fostering skills that are crucial to the company’s needs, although not necessarily tied to specific Sasol-related projects. The focus remains on developing a talent pool equipped with the right skill sets.
Importance and holistic approach to sustainability
Sustainability is a strategic priority for Sasol, crucial for both continued operation and community support. The company has diversified its portfolio to include a variety of products from fuels to chemicals, with a global footprint in over 32 countries and employing approximately 30,000 individuals.
According to Dr. Hughes, Sasol’s approach to sustainability is holistic. The company leverages collaborations and partnerships, ensuring that the communities they operate in are not left behind in the transition. This not only fosters socio-economic growth but also caters to the educational and developmental needs of these communities, ensuring a sustained and inclusive growth trajectory.
Key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Sasol has prioritised five of the SDGs: decent work and economic growth (8), industry, innovation, and infrastructure (9), responsible consumption and production (12), climate action (13), and partnerships for the goals (17).
Their roadmap for decarbonisation includes substantial investments in education and training. For instance, in 2023, Sasol invested around 74 million ZAR in bursaries and development programs. They also contributed over 150 million ZAR towards academic partnerships, focusing on themes such as green hydrogen.
Practical implementation and collaborations
Collaborations with institutions like the National Research Foundation (NRF) enable Sasol to reach a broad academic community. The partnership allows Sasol to influence research themes and in return, support the development of skills that benefit both the company and the broader community.
For example, Sasol’s involvement extends beyond monetary contributions, offering technical advisement and access to company facilities for practical exposure. This collaborative approach ensures that research remains relevant and impactful.
Future outlook
Looking ahead, Dr. Hughes envisions Sasol’s programs not only benefiting the company but contributing significantly to the nation’s sustainability efforts. This forward-thinking approach aims to ensure Sasol’s continued relevance and leadership in sustainability, both within South Africa and globally.
Ready for more?
In our article, The road to ethical partnerships: Lessons from university-industry collaborations, we look at dilemmas that can arise in partnerships and share our learnings to show what to keep in mind to make your partnerships mutually beneficial, while also being ethical.
If you want to look at a student-centred, university-industry partnership from the academic perspective, listen to our episode Future-ready students: The transformative impact of industry-integrated courses and learn all about the collaboration between Jönköping University’s School of Engineering and Husqvarna, one of the largest companies in the region.
Stay tuned for the next episode on this series and don’t forget to follow us on your preferred podcast platform!
