26 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I May 2026
MINE VENTILATION FEATURE SERIES mine ventilation
In terms of reporting, South Africa ' s national reporting threshold for greenhouse gases is 10 000 tons per year. Based on the calculated emissions, Shaft 2 ' s CO2 equivalent( CO2e) emissions( which account for methane ' s higher global warming potential – 25 times that of CO2, though recently updated to 27 – would exceed this threshold, requiring reporting. However, it was clarified that this threshold currently excludes fugitive emissions, meaning Shaft 2 would not be required to report these specific emissions under current regulations. Annual reporting is due by March each year, with a five-year data retention requirement.
CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK The study ' s conclusions reinforce several critical points:
• The calculated baselines for the two shafts show significant, albeit lower than intuitively expected, CO2 and CH4 emissions.
• While Shaft 2 ' s CO2e emissions exceed the 10 000-ton threshold, current regulations exclude fugitive emissions from this reporting requirement.
As emphasised by a representative from the Mine Health and Safety Council, compliance with the Paris Agreement and national goals necessitates reliable monitoring and reporting. It is crucial to distinguish between carbon sources and actual carbon emissions, and there are penalties for misleading reports.
Audience questions further explored the methodology and implications. Regarding the sample bags, Cook clarified that they are evacuated by Nexa and typically inflated to about half capacity, with samples sent directly to labs due to potential deterioration over time. While the standard analysis includes 27 individual gases, the focus for this project was on CO2 and CH4 due to their significance.
The discussion also touched on the future impact of carbon credits. While the current CO2 tonnage from gold mines might seem low, the eventual calculation of carbon credits per ton could significantly impact mining models, making even these " low " emissions a financial consideration. The presentation highlighted that while gold mines may have lower CH4 emissions than coal mines, particularly Free State coal mines are known for significantly higher CH4 levels.
Ultimately, Alan Cook ' s research provides a robust, datadriven baseline for understanding fugitive carbon gas emissions from deep-level gold mines. It underscores the importance of direct measurement over broad models, the need for accurate reporting, and the growing relevance of these emissions in the broader context of climate change and sustainable mining practices. RACA
26 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I May 2026