Aggressive Rise in Indonesian Coal Methane Emissions Over Two Decades

Data from the UK energy research institute, Ember Climate, shows a significant increase in methane emissions from Indonesia's coal sector over the past two decades.

Their report indicates a 20% change in methane emissions from coal seams (GBM) between 2000 and 2001.

By 2010, this change had risen to 257%. While consistently increasing, a decrease in the rate of change occurred between 2013 and 2014, as shown in the graph.

By 2019, the percentage change in emissions reached 700%, the highest record in almost two decades.

Faster Growth Than Other Energy Sub-sectors

Ember explains that Indonesia reported 128 kt CH4 from surface coal mines. This falls under the category of fugitive emissions from solid fossil fuels (1B1), based on the UNFCCC greenhouse gas (GHG) reference.

Fugitive emissions refer to unintentional gas releases, such as methane escaping during mining activities.

"The reported estimate of surface coal mine methane is relatively small compared to fugitive emissions from the oil and gas sub-sector, which amounted to 554 kt CH4," Ember wrote in its report published on Monday (March 11, 2024).

Reported coal mine methane (CMM) emissions have increased rapidly. Ember notes that since 2000, CMM emissions have increased by an average of 12% per year, making it the fastest-growing emission source in the energy sector.

Ember acknowledges that CMM emissions are currently relatively small within the energy sector. However, with the decline in fugitive emissions from the oil and gas sub-sector, CMM remains a concern.

"CMM is projected to become a major methane producer in the energy sector, even with the current estimates still in effect," the research team stated.

(Also read: [Global Methane Emissions Detected by Satellite Increased in 2023](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2024/03/14/emisi-metana-dunia-yang-terdeteksi-satelit-meningkat-pada-2023))