Tencent CarbonX Alliance

Our Vice President for China Operations, Hongxing shentu was invited to speak at this week’s Tencent Sustainable Social Value Innovation Summit. Enjoy the full transcript of his talk below.

Today, it is a great honor for me to represent Sasol and share our vision and actions regarding sustainable carbon source solutions. Specifically, I will explore how these solutions can make our lives greener and more sustainable.

First, let me briefly introduce Sasol. We are a chemical and energy company originating from South Africa, with over 70 years of experience in the field of synthetic fuels and chemicals. Sasol is a global leader in synthetic fuels and chemicals, focusing on transforming resources like coal and natural gas into high-quality fuels and chemicals, contributing to both energy diversification and sustainable societal development.

So, how does Sasol contribute to sustainability? Let me give you a concrete example. Decarbonizing the aviation industry is a major challenge since airplanes require high-energy-density fuels, and current battery technologies are still not sufficient for long-haul flights. Thus, liquid fuels will remain crucial for aviation in the foreseeable future. In sectors like aviation that are "hard to decarbonize," we have discovered an innovative way to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

To meet this challenge, Sasol has utilized our EcoFT (Fischer-Tropsch) technology to establish Zaffra in partnership with other innovators, which can convert captured carbon dioxide into sustainable fuel. First, captured CO₂ is converted into carbon monoxide, which is then combined with green hydrogen produced via renewable energy, such as wind or solar, through water electrolysis to create green syngas. This green syngas is subsequently processed through our advanced EcoFT technology to synthesize high-quality sustainable aviation fuel. This process ensures that we can effectively utilize CO₂, thereby reducing emissions and achieving genuine circular resource use in an environmentally friendly way.

However, Sasol’s journey towards sustainability doesn’t stop there. We are collaborating with South Africa’s Council for Geoscience to develop more environmentally friendly energy solutions. Additionally, we are an active partner in the CARE-O-SENE project, an initiative that unites forces in the aviation industry to advance research on catalysts and sustainable fuels. Through these collaborations, we are not only pushing forward sustainable aviation technologies but also making an impact across a range of industrial applications.

Looking ahead, our vision is to expand the application of these technologies into every aspect of daily life. Sasol’s technologies can be used to produce raw materials for many of the everyday chemicals you encounter. Imagine that every bottle of hand soap, every drop of perfume you use in the future, could be made with compounds derived from CO₂ using our innovative technology.

This is one of the reasons we joined the Tencent CarbonX Alliance - we believe that only through collaboration and innovation can we realize this vision and bring green solutions into every household.

Sustainable development is a global mission that requires the collective effort of every person and every organization. Only through close collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society can we advance towards a green future. By joining forces with our partners, we can integrate global resources and create large-scale impact, enabling these innovative technologies to truly benefit society as a whole. I hope that today’s sharing has given you a better understanding of our shared goals, and I look forward to joining hands with all of you as we step towards a greener future.

Thank you very much!