Protected Carbon in South Africa

Affected Areas

These protected areas in South Africa contain current or planned fossil fuel projects. Oil, gas, and coal extraction in protected areas harms their natural value while contributing to climate change.

• Fossil Fuel Type
• Affected Area

• Oil & Gas
• Mphaphuli Protected Environment

• Coal
• John Cairns Private Nature Reserve

• Coal
• Vhembe Biosphere Reserve

Extraction Data

This table shows a summary of potential emissions from fossil fuel extraction projects in protected areas in South Africa (including projects that are currently extracting, planned or idled).

• Fossil Fuel Type
• Fossil Fuel Quantity
• CO₂ Quantity (MT CO₂e)

• Oil & Gas
• 0.93 MMBOE
• 0.39

• Coal
• 3,125.00 MT
• 6,250.00

• Combined
• 6,250.39

Deposits Data

This table shows a summary of potential emissions from fossil fuel deposits under protected areas in South Africa. Many of these are not yet the target of any industry activities and could more easily become part of a non-extraction policy.

• Fossil Fuel Type
• CO₂ Quantity (MT CO₂e)

• Oil & Gas
• 1,188.81

• Coal
• 57,922.45

• Combined
• 59,111.27

Early Warnings

This table shows untouched protected areas that have planned carbon extraction projects, along with their respective startup dates.

• Affected Area
• Startup Date

• Mphaphuli Protected Environment
• 2040

Profiting Companies

• Fossil Fuel Type
• Profiting Company

• Oil & Gas
• Booi Brothers

• Coal
• Alliance Resource Partners LP [73.2%]; Rothe Investments [26.0%]; other unknown/mixed entity types [0.0%]

• Coal
• Alliance Resource Partners LP [99.0%]; other unknown/mixed entity types [0.0%]

• Coal
• Bono Lithihi Investments Group [100%]

• Coal
• Thungela Resources Ltd [90.0%]; Nkulo Community Partnership Trust [5.0%]; Sisonke Employee Empowerment Scheme [5.0%]

Map