According to Reuters article published on January 24, 2023, South Africa's Sasol (SOLJ.J) on Tuesday reported a 25% decline in coal exports during the first half of its financial year due to rail logistics problems as well as safety and operational stoppages at its mines.
In a production update, Sasol reported a 4% decline in coal output to 15.2 million tonnes for the six months to Dec. 31, with only 900,000 tonnes being shipped for export, compared to 1.2 million tonnes in its first half the previous year.
State-owned rail operator Transnet's under-performance, blamed on a shortage of locomotives and spare parts as well as cable theft and vandalised infrastructure, has hobbled South African coal exports at a time of high demand for the fossil fuel especially in Europe, after the European Union banned coal imports from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Separately, Sasol said it has signed three wind power purchase deals as it shifts towards renewable energy to meet its carbon emissions targets.
