Methane Leaks
Coal · 2 Feb 2026

Methane plume detected in China

On 2 Feb 2026, the Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI - ESA satellite saw methane escaping at about 71,000 kg/h from a coal mine.

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

71,000 kg/h
± 43,000 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 1,704 tonnes of methane.

Detected
2 Feb 2026 · 05:28 UTC
Satellite
Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI - ESA
Sector
Coal
Wind
Plume drifting towards the NW · 0.9 m/s
Coordinates
35.41, 112.78
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
ba9a72c6-c23f-4368-a794-631f7e32e970

Likely operator

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Status

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Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume ba9a72c6-c23f-4368-a794-631f7e32e970, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/ba9a72c6-c23f-4368-a794-631f7e32e970), accessed 4 Oct 2026.