Energy & Science
Huge Methane Leak Spotted in Heart of China’s Top Coal Hub
The plume is one of the largest so far attributed to global coal industry. Leaks detected by satellite have also been spotted in Canada, Russia and South Africa.
Employees unload coal from a truck at a coal mine and processing facility in Liulin, Shanxi province.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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A massive plume of methane, the potent greenhouse gas that’s a key contributor to global warming, has been identified in China’s biggest coal production region.
The release in northeast Shanxi province is one of the largest that geoanalytics company Kayrros SAS has so far attributed to the global coal sector and likely emanated from multiple mining operations.