South Africa’s coal mines are leaking methane – and no one knows how much
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. It is released from natural sources (like wetlands) and human activities (coal mining, and oil and gas production). It is also emitted by agriculture (especially livestock and rice paddies), and decomposing waste in rubbish dumps.
Methane traps over 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide in the first 20 years after it is released. It is responsible for about 30% of the warming the planet has experienced since the Industrial Revolution began in the 1760s.
South Africa is the seventh-largest coal producer in the world. Coal accounts for about 73% of the country’s energy. Although it is beginning to be phased out, the coal industry still matters for employment and local economy activity.
In coal mines, methane is naturally trapped within coal seams and the surrounding rock. When the coal is extracted, this gas is released into the atmosphere – both during active mining operations and from abandoned and closed mines – polluting the air and putting communities’ health at risk. Coal mine methane leaks also raise the risks of explosions in mines.