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Article

4 Dec 2019

Author:
Mining Weekly (South Africa)

So. Africa: Oil giant angers some investors by failure to present resolution on climate change

‘Sasol scores ‘own goal’ as climate pressure mounts in South Africa’ 29 November 2019

Sasol, South Africa’s second-biggest polluter, angered some of its investors by refusing to put a resolution on its response to climate change to shareholders and could face legal challenges if it continues to refuse votes on the issue. Sasol dismissed a request by some investors, including Old Mutual Investment Group, to table the resolution that demanded more clarity on its greenhouse-gas emissions and reduction targets, at its annual general meeting on November 27. That contrasts with Standard Bank Group and FirstRand, which have become the first South African companies to allow climate-risk resolutions to be voted on by shareholders.

Sasol’s decision comes as pressure builds on South African companies to act on climate change in a country that depends on coal for most of its power. South Africa’s greenhouse-gas emissions match those of the UK, which has an economy eight times bigger. Sasol dismissed the request citing legal advice that it said found it wasn’t obliged to put climate-risk matters to shareholders. It gave no details on the legal opinion. “Ongoing, robust” engagement is a more effective way of understanding shareholder concerns, Sasol said in response to questions on Friday.

At the meeting the company did commit to producing a “road map” on its climate risk mitigation strategy in 2020. It produced its first climate change report earlier this year. Sasol said that was a “significant first step.” “They scored an own goal,” said Asief Mahomed, chief investment officer of Aeon Investment Management, which backed the resolution along with Old Mutual and four other fund management companies. “We are exceptionally disappointed with the way they handled the process.” Sasol, which emissions data show is the country’s second-biggest polluter after Eskom Holdings, spurned a similar move last year and investors say they will keep pushing the company for more clarity as environment, social and governance concerns became increasingly prominent in investment decisions.