Collectively the agreements will see Sasol promote water conservation in schools, and contribute towards research and development aimed at improving SA’s water treatment technologies and re-use of wastewater. Regarding the one agreement, Sasol’s Executive Director, Nolitha Fakude said: “Sasol’s partnership with the Department of Basic Education in the Free State and the Department of Water Affairs (DWA), known as Project Busa Metsi, seeks to minimise water losses at schools and educate learners on the importance of water conservation, especially in the Metsimaholo Municipality.
This municipality receives its water from the Vaal River system, together with approximately 40% of South Africans.” Reportedly, SA municipalities lose 30% to 45% of their freshwater as a result of ageing distribution systems and broken or leaking plumbing fixtures. The DWA has set a target to reduce these losses by 15% across all municipalities by 2015.
The second agreement will see Sasol partnering with the Water Research Commission (WRC) to share their respective research and technology facilities, as well as their relevant skills, to develop systems not only to conserve existing freshwater resources, but also to re-use wastewater, to research climate change impacts on freshwater resources, and improve ecosystems remediation and rehabilitation, among other aims.
“Through this partnership we want to fortify our science, technology and innovation partnership to ensure a higher input of knowledge and workable technologies to empower responsible water citizenship at all levels to ensure a water successful future for our beautiful country,” Dhesigen Naidoo, WRC CEO said. Sasol said that because its largest operations in SA were dependent on the water-stressed Vaal River system, it too would be promoting efficient water use in its own operations.
