Methane Leaks
Waste / landfill · 14 May 2026

Methane plume detected in South Africa

On 14 May 2026, the EMIT - NASA satellite saw methane escaping at about 2,072 kg/h from a waste site or landfill.

Satellite map of methane plume locations in South Africa
Map imagery © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap © MaxarOpen the interactive map →

2,072 kg/h
± 577 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 49.7 tonnes of methane.

Detected
14 May 2026 · 12:18 UTC
Satellite
EMIT - NASA
Sector
Waste / landfill
Wind
Plume drifting towards the E · 2.2 m/s
Coordinates
-33.766, 18.53607
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
6036b593-aa08-4617-9202-c2b194b25bf8

Likely operator

We don't have enough evidence to name an operator for this site yet. If you know who runs it, tell us below.

Emitting site

ZAF_S_007 · Landfill
13 plumes detected at this site

Status

UNEP has not recorded a notification for this plume.

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Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 6036b593-aa08-4617-9202-c2b194b25bf8, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/6036b593-aa08-4617-9202-c2b194b25bf8), accessed 4 Oct 2026.