From coal boom to methane boom

This report by Ember examines the surge in coal mine methane (CMM) emissions in Indonesia, arguing that official government figures significantly understate the actual emissions due to flawed reporting systems and the exclusion of underground mines.

• Indonesia's coal production grew by an average of more than 11% per year between 2000 and 2024, leading to a corresponding increase in coal mine methane (CMM) emissions. Ember estimates that CMM emissions in 2024 reached 722 kt CH4, which is more than four times the government's reported figure of 168 CH4.
• Official CMM emissions reporting in Indonesia is hindered by structural issues, including limited institutional capacity and ineffective monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) frameworks. The government continues to use low IPCC emission factors for open-cut mines and excludes emissions from underground mines, which Ember previously estimated could account for one third of national CMM emissions.
• Corporate reporting of CMM is insufficient; while regulated under MEMR Regulation No. 22/2019, detailed guidance is missing, leaving reporting primarily to publicly-listed companies. An analysis of five companies representing 17.7% of national coal production showed they reported 90 kt CH4, which is over half of the total officially reported national CMM emissions.
• The expansion of underground mining is expected to drive CMM growth. A single underground mine in South Kalimantan, with a production capacity of 2 x 10 million tonnes per year, is projected to see its CMM emissions rise from 35 kt CH4 in 2024 to 332 kt CH4 by 2030. Consequently, total national CMM emissions are expected to increase by approximately 25% by the end of the decade, even if national coal production declines by 14%.
• Mitigation technologies such as pre-mine drainage and ventilation air methane (VAM) oxidation are commercially viable but not currently applied in Indonesia. Additionally, the report highlights the risk of abandoned mine methane (AMM) from underground mines, which can release gas for decades after closure, suggesting the need for financial guarantees to ensure post-closure control.

APA

Ember (2025). From coal boom to methane boom. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/from-coal-boom-to-methane-boom/

Chicago

Ember. From coal boom to methane boom. 2025. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/from-coal-boom-to-methane-boom/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=From coal boom to methane boom |date=6 November 2025 |url=https://ember-energy.org/chapter/from-coal-boom-to-methane-boom/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember2025from, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{From coal boom to methane boom}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2025}, month = nov, url = {https://ember-energy.org/chapter/from-coal-boom-to-methane-boom/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }