A Climate Blindspot? Coal Mine Methane in South Africa

In 2024 the average annual global temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time. This limit is widely regarded as being critical for dangerous climate change and highlights the urgency of identifying and implementing measures across the economy for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among the most effective short-term levers available is reducing emissions of methane. Methane is responsible for roughly 30% of observed global warming since the industrial revolution and has over 80 times the global warming potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Coal mining is the fourth-largest source of anthropogenic methane worldwide. South Africa is the world’s seventh-largest coal producer and relies heavily on coal for electricity and primary energy supply. Mitigation of coal mine methane (CMM) could thus potentially represent an opportunity for South Africa to address its own emissions profile. However, information on the scale of emissions is uncertain, and as such the extent of opportunity is still unclear.

This study set out to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current state of methane emissions from South Africa’s coal sector, mitigation opportunities, and the enabling policy environment. Structured around six key research questions, the analysis identifies urgent data gaps, technical and institutional barriers, and critical opportunities to advance the national agenda on methane mitigation.

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