In 2004 Coaltech initiated research to quantify fugitive atmospheric methane emissions from underground coal mines. This work was completed in 2005, and the results subsequently approved for inclusion in the IPCC emission factor database. Total methane emissions were calculated as approximately 80 000 tons per annum, combining with carbon dioxide to give 1.8 Mt CO2e.

From 2009 this was extended to include emissions from surface coal mines, where measured areas included spoils, rehabilitated land, and coal seams. Carbon dioxide and methane emissions, combined with very small amounts of nitrous oxide, gave calculated total fugitive emissions for the surface coal mines of 1.9 Mt.

In addition, discard dump emissions were calculated at 0.13 Mt, and from spontaneous combustion in abandoned coal mines at 0.2 Mt. Combining all of these from underground, surface, discard and abandoned mines, gives total fugitive emissions of 3.86 Mt per annum CO2e from South African coal mines.

Presented by Alan Cook Director / Consultant Coaltech Research Association

Alan Cook has 20 years' experience in mine gases, particularly methane. He has an Honours degree in Mining engineering from Strathclyde University in Glasgow and a Master's Degree in Mining from Wits.

Previously with Gencor, CSIR and Sasol Mining, since 1997 he has been a consultant and director of Itasca Africa, the Johannesburg office of Itasca Consulting Group in Minneapolis. During the last year, himself and co-director Tony Leach, have taken over the Johannesburg office entirely from the USA, hence the new name of Latona Consulting.

He has carried out a wide range of consulting and research work for many major South African and international clients, including seam gas contents on coal mines, and gas mixtures and emissions on hard rock mines, as well as gas explosion investigations and enquiries as an expert witness.

His presentation today on Greenhouse Gas Emissions is mainly on work completed for Coaltech Research Association.