Methane: South Africa's hidden risk

There is a massive undercount of methane leaks in the country's coal mines, a new report says

- Sheree Bega

South Africa, the world's seventh-largest coal producer, faces a climate challenge that has largely flown under the radar — methane emissions from coal mines.

Methane, a greenhouse gas more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, is a significant driver of global warming.

Yet coal mine methane (CMM) remains an overlooked issue in South Africa, which relies heavily on coal for electricity and primary energy supply, according to new research by the Minerals to Metals Initiative at the University of Cape Town and Swaniti Global, an international policy and governance organisation.

Their report provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of coalmine methane in South Africa, outlining levels, mitigation opportunities and policy pathways.

Mitigating CMM could help South Africa cut its own emissions while creating new opportunities in coal-dependent regions. But "information on the scale of emissions is uncertain and, as such, the extent of opportunity is still unclear", it said.

The report found that methane emissions from coal mines might be far higher than officially reported — possibly seven to 14 times greater. With the right technologies and policies, up to 90% of these emissions could be captured or eliminated at low cost, delivering climate and economic benefits.

"This is not only about plugging a data gap," said Jennifer Broadhurst, deputy director of the Minerals to Metals Initiative.

"It's about seizing an opportunity to create economic value, strengthen local communities and show leadership in tackling one of the world's most pressing climate challenges."

Why methane matters

Last year, the global average temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time - a critical threshold for avoiding dangerous climate impacts. This underscores the urgency of cutting greenhouse gases across every sector, the report said.