Satellite analysis identifies 40% more methane from Australian coal mines

Executive Summary

Satellite data shows 40% more emissions than national reports

Satellite examination of mines responsible for less than four-fifths of Australia’s coal production found that these mines emit 40% more than Australia’s reported total.

Australia’s coal mine methane emissions reporting remains under a cloud of international scrutiny. Building on a body of nationally reported data, peer-reviewed satellite assessments, and independent estimates from Kayrros, Ember assessed coal mine methane emissions across six key coal mining clusters.

The preliminary results of this study, which cover approximately four-fifths of Australia’s black coal production, indicate fugitive methane levels at least 40% higher than officially reported for the country as a whole. In New South Wales (NSW), which has largely shifted emissions reporting of open-cut mining towards company-led estimates, this study found fugitive emissions levels twice as high as officially reported, whilst only covering two-thirds of total coal production.

Critically, this study’s areas included more than 90% of Australia’s metallurgical coal production, indicating significant potential for emissions uncertainty within the key steelmaking coal supply chains.