China on Monday launched a methane monitoring commercial satellite, the first one of its kind developed by the country, to track methane emissions worldwide.
Aboard by a Lijian-1 Y5 commercial carrier rocket together with 14 other satellites, the Xiguang-004 satellite was launched at 12:03 (Beijing Time) and has entered the planned orbit.
Carrying multiple payloads, including a methane concentration detector and an imaging camera, the satellite is capable of identifying sources of methane emissions in coal mines, landfills, and oil and gas fields.
"We focus on the specific point-source of methane emissions, such as a specific mining area, an industrial zone, or a section of the pipelines. The application scenario serves as a supplement to China's carbon monitoring satellites providing detailed perspectives on emissions," said Qin Xiaobao, deputy head of the data application department of the satellite's developer Xiopm Space.
Scientists say that in the process of global warming, the intensity of warming caused by methane is much higher than that of carbon dioxide. In a 20-year time scale, the intensity of warming caused by methane is 84 times that of carbon dioxide.
Xiguang-004 is also the world's first monitoring satellite specifically designed to focus on methane gas.
It can conduct high-frequency, high-precision observations of point-source methane leaks and emissions globally, providing technical support for the establishment of a comprehensive methane emission monitoring system.
"Our satellite is specifically designed to focus on methane gas emissions, setting the goals and direction for global methane monitoring. This initiative aligns with the needs of our nation [of achieving zero-carbon emissions] and addresses critical objectives related to global environmental change," said Li Zhizhong, academician from the International Academy of Astronautics.
China launches methane monitoring commercial satellite
A 25 percent import tariff on all foreign-built vehicles entering the United States has raised serious concerns for manufacturers in South Africa.
Automotive giants like Mercedes and BMW have long used South Africa as a base for global exports -- but those plans may be shifting into reverse gear after the U.S. announced the punitive measures.
"If you take, for example, BMW, 97 percent of the X3 that we are producing in Rosslyn is exported out of the country. We only sell 3 percent in South Africa, and there's a huge number of those vehicles that also go into the U.S. So there are companies in South Africa that are purely here not because they are selling vehicles in South Africa; they are here to produce vehicles for the global market, and it's important for them to remain globally competitive," said Mike Mabasa, CEO of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa.
U.S. automaker Ford, which has deep roots in South Africa, is also in the crosshairs.
The company recently invested over 300 million U.S. dollars to upgrade its Silverton plant in Pretoria, South Africa, for the production of the world's only plug-in hybrid Ranger, which has just entered production but could face delays or restrictions.
"If an American citizen wants to buy specifically a Ford Ranger that is a plug-in hybrid, they can only place an order in South Africa, nowhere else in the world. So, that means, obviously, the capacity of Ford to be able to produce those vehicles in big volumes is going to be constrained, because Americans are going be looking at another Ford that is produced in another country, or even in the United States," said Mabasa.
South Africa has long enjoyed duty-free automotive exports to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, but that relationship now hangs in the balance.
A sharp shift in U.S. foreign policy threatens to derail an industry that employs thousands and contributes around 5 percent to the country's economy.
"We produce less than 1 percent of global automotive vehicles, so to say. So, in reality, the impact on us is likely to be more disproportionate than those of our peers that produce at the same level. And the risk is actually created -- a concentration risk -- in countries that have greater capacity and are building more; in those countries will be able to absorb some of this," said Parks Tau, South Africa's minister of trade and industry.
Amid growing concerns about overreliance on the U.S. market, Amith Singh, national manager for manufacturing at Nedbank Commercial Bank, emphasized the importance of tapping into regional trade opportunities.
"I think we need to make better use of some of our local agreements, our African continental agreements. How do we leverage that? How do we partner with the government and private sector to start benefiting the countries and the economies aside from the United States? So, those could be the catalyst to drive our localization projects; it could be what we need to drive the African economy as opposed to being completely reliant on the States (United States)," he said.
South Africa is for now standing firm in its decision not to retaliate against steep U.S. import tariffs, set to take effect in just a few days.
Officials in Pretoria acknowledge the challenges posed by the current U.S. administration but are pursuing a diplomatic approach in hopes of maintaining stable relations and preserving the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
US tariffs rock South Africa’s auto industry
