Methane leaks in South Africa
Satellites have detected 210 methane plumes at 13 sites in South Africa since 2022, 50 of them in the 12 months to 1 Sep 2026.
50
Plumes, last 12 months
13
Sites
53,000 kg/h
Largest plume, last 12 months
0 / 2
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 2025Coal | — | 53,000 kg/h | Sasol Plausible | View |
| 23 Aug 2026Coal | — | 28,000 kg/h | Sasol Plausible | View |
| 2 Aug 2026Coal | — | 26,000 kg/h | Sasol Plausible | View |
| 24 Aug 2026Coal | — | 22,000 kg/h | Sasol Plausible | View |
| 22 Oct 2025Coal | — | 16,000 kg/h | Sasol Plausible | View |
| 7 Jul 2026Coal | — | 12,000 kg/h | Sasol Plausible | View |
| 24 Dec 2025Waste / landfill | ZAF_S_006 | 4,492 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 29 Aug 2026Waste / landfill | ZAF_S_012 | 4,168 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 31 Mar 2026Waste / landfill | ZAF_S_006 | 3,544 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
| 16 Jun 2026Waste / landfill | ZAF_S_006 | 3,066 kg/h | Not yet attributed | View |
Who operates these sites
| Sasol | 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZAF_S_006Landfill · Persistent | 1332 total | 9,758 kg/h | 1 Sep 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| ZAF_S_007Landfill · Frequent | 613 total | 2,072 kg/h | 1 Sep 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| ZAF_S_011O&G source (generic) · Frequent | 59 total | 3,017 kg/h | 14 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| ZAF_S_010O&G source (generic) · Frequent | 59 total | 3,378 kg/h | 14 Jun 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| ZAF_S_018Landfill | 46 total | 3,108 kg/h | 29 Aug 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| ZAF_S_001Landfill | 313 total | 2,393 kg/h | 4 May 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| ZAF_S_012Landfill | 38 total | 4,168 kg/h | 29 Aug 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| ZAF_S_015Venting shaft | 26 total | 1,269 kg/h | 25 Jun 2026 | Sasol Plausible |
| ZAF_S_009Venting shaft | 23 total | 795 kg/h | 11 Jun 2026 | Sasol Plausible |
| ZAF_S_019Landfill | 11 total | 977 kg/h | 29 Aug 2026 | Not yet attributed |
| ZAF_S_014Landfill | 03 total | 2,567 kg/h | 29 May 2024 | Not yet attributed |
| ZAF_S_013Dumping site | 02 total | 6,690 kg/h | 29 Jan 2024 | Not yet attributed |
| ZAF_S_008Venting shaft | 01 total | 606 kg/h | 24 Aug 2023 | Sasol Plausible |
Authorities you can notify
Of 2 sites UNEP notified in South Africa, operators responded on 0.
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