Methane leaks in China
Satellites have detected 3,845 methane plumes at 699 sites in China since 2021, 1,370 of them in the 12 months to 1 Sep 2026.
1,370
Plumes, last 12 months
699
Sites
225,000 kg/h
Largest plume, last 12 months
0 / 90
Notified sites where the operator responded to UNEP
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Biggest plumes in the last 12 months
| Detected | Site | Emission rate | Likely operator | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 2025Coal | — | 225,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 7 Apr 2026Coal | — | 204,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 28 Dec 2025Coal | — | 200,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 15 Dec 2025Coal | — | 184,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 10 Dec 2025Coal | — | 178,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 23 Nov 2025Coal | — | 135,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 5 Dec 2025Coal | — | 121,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 25 Sep 2025Coal | — | 121,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 6 Apr 2026Coal | — | 120,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 18 Apr 2026Coal | — | 111,000 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
Who operates these sites
| PetroChina | 87 plumes |
Plumes at sites we attribute to each company. Most attributions here rely on who operates a field or region, not on site-level confirmation; see each site for the evidence. What do confidence levels mean?
Plumes by sector, last 12 months
Sites that leak most often
| Site | Plumes, last 12 months | Largest detected rate | Last seen | Likely operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHN_S_072Venting shaft · Persistent | 1531 total | 10,991 kg/h | 8 Jul 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_205Venting shaft · Persistent | 1324 total | 7,451 kg/h | 8 Jul 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_157Venting shaft · Frequent | 1226 total | 7,931 kg/h | 8 Jul 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_212Venting shaft · Persistent | 1020 total | 4,853 kg/h | 27 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_118Flare · Persistent | 1016 total | 7,836 kg/h | 27 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_274Drainage station · Frequent | 1013 total | 3,063 kg/h | 8 Jul 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_857Flare · Persistent | 1010 total | 1,523 kg/h | 3 Aug 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_204Venting shaft · Frequent | 922 total | 3,722 kg/h | 5 May 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_273Venting shaft · Frequent | 916 total | 3,635 kg/h | 27 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_839Well head · Persistent | 99 total | 3,409 kg/h | 2 Jul 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_069Venting shaft · Frequent | 831 total | 8,891 kg/h | 27 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_182Drainage station · Frequent | 822 total | 15,281 kg/h | 27 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_103Venting shaft · Persistent | 820 total | 8,621 kg/h | 31 Aug 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_630Venting shaft · Frequent | 817 total | 2,723 kg/h | 27 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_088Venting shaft · Persistent | 723 total | 14,066 kg/h | 27 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_137Venting shaft · Frequent | 721 total | 10,681 kg/h | 27 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_174Venting shaft · Frequent | 719 total | 7,698 kg/h | 27 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_132Venting shaft · Persistent | 717 total | 4,931 kg/h | 31 Aug 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_131Venting shaft · Persistent | 717 total | 6,800 kg/h | 31 Aug 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_175Drainage station · Frequent | 717 total | 8,628 kg/h | 11 May 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_161Drainage station · Persistent | 716 total | 6,246 kg/h | 15 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_145Venting shaft · Frequent | 715 total | 7,663 kg/h | 31 Aug 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_203Venting shaft · Frequent | 712 total | 4,415 kg/h | 15 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_633Drainage station · Frequent | 77 total | 4,153 kg/h | 8 Jul 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| CHN_S_142Venting shaft · Frequent | 618 total | 3,905 kg/h | 25 Jul 2026 | Not yet attributed |
Authorities you can notify
Of 90 sites UNEP notified in China, operators responded on 0.
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