Www.mobserver.co.za published an article on Monday, after a Hexrivier Street resident, Adri Hanekom, reported that she and her husband noticed the odour and experienced chest pains along with it since May 12.

Ms Hanekom questioned the origin of the odour, mentioning several articles about a methane gas cloud that leaked into the atmosphere, and wondered if the two could be linked.

Several reports were made of the methane gas cloud that was detected by a French analytical company, Kayrros SAS, on May 10. Satellite footage at their disposal detected that the methane cloud was being leaked into the atmosphere at 65 tons per hour, 125km east of Johannesburg.

Also read: Is Aerorand smell linked to methane gas cloud?

A local geologist, Mr Nico Denner, contacted www.mobserver.co.za, saying that the odour experienced in Aerorand is likely caused by nearby coal mines and not the methane cloud.

“Methane is invisible, odourless and tasteless, so it can’t be seen, smelled or tasted.”

Mr Denner said that methane is lighter than our surrounding atmosphere, meaning that it rises up and will not be trapped near the ground.

He further explained that methane can only build up in closed spaces, and that it automatically dilutes after being released into the open air. A large cloud of methane, like the one reported by Kayrros SAS, will also affect the whole of Middelburg, and not just Aerorand.

“I also live in Aerorand and the smell in the mornings is typical of a coal mine area on winter mornings. During the winter, the cold air settles on the ground and traps pollutants at ground level. That is why air pollution can always be seen more prominently in the winter months, especially when there is no wind.”

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