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South Africa Battles to Curb Methane Leaks from Coal Mines Amid Climate Crisis
29 Oct
Summary
- South Africa's coal mines emit 10-14 times more methane than officially reported
- Capturing methane could create new jobs in coal regions facing energy transition
- Lack of dedicated policies and fragmented responsibility hinders progress on methane
As of October 2025, South Africa's coal industry continues to be a major source of methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that traps over 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide. However, the country has struggled to accurately measure and address these emissions.
Official government data puts methane emissions from coal mining at just 0.06 million tonnes in 2022. But independent estimates suggest the real figure is 10 to 14 times higher, between 0.6 and 1.1 million tonnes. This gap is due to limited monitoring, different estimation approaches, and a complete lack of data from closed and abandoned mines.
Tackling these methane leaks could be a game-changer for South Africa's climate efforts. Experts estimate that up to 90% of emissions from operating mines could be reduced through capture and utilization technologies. This would not only cut greenhouse gases, but also improve safety, protect public health, and potentially create new jobs in coal regions facing an energy transition.
However, South Africa currently lacks dedicated policies to address methane from coal mining. Responsibility for reporting these emissions is fragmented across government departments, and companies' self-reported data is often incomplete or not made public. As a result, this potent greenhouse gas continues to leak into the atmosphere, silently adding to the country's climate crisis.
