Methane Capturing Using Anaerobic Digestion Technology: A Way towards Mitigating Green House Gases in Limpopo Province, South Africa

South Africa is not only a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), it is also particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change on health, livelihoods, water and food, with a disproportionate impact on the poor, especially women and children. One of the mandates of the national government is to reduce GHG emissions by 34% by 2020 and 43% by 2025. Global anthropogenic emissions of CH₄ are estimated at 323 Mt in 2005 and expected to increase by 28% to 414 Mt in 2030, when assuming no further implementation of control. Globally, efforts are being made to control GHG emission from various sources. The methane that is exhaled by the ruminant animals is impossible to capture, but a large proportion of methane produced by the manure of these animals can be captured through anaerobic digestion technology. The use of traditional fuels, like wood, animal waste and crop residues has local environmental impacts due to significant emission of pollutants. To overcome the above, biogas program has been established through research study which covers the whole province of Limpopo. This study focuses on knowledge dissemination of methane recovery projects in the province with the intention of reducing inefficient sources for energy use. The study also considers pollutants that are contributing to global warming resulted from GHG emitted from activities that generate waste. It also shows some contribution made by various organization and departments in mitigating GHG emissions in South Africa in general, and in particular Limpopo province.