Mpumalanga coal belt
eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, South Africa · -26.10°, 29.40° · Fossil fuels
A cluster of a dozen coal power stations creates one of the world's largest nitrogen-dioxide hotspots visible from space.
The Highveld of Mpumalanga hosts most of Eskom's coal fleet, plus mines and a coal-to-liquids plant. Satellite data have shown the region as one of the planet's biggest sources of nitrogen dioxide, and residents of towns like eMalahleni ('place of coal') suffer high rates of respiratory illness. In 2022 a South African court ruled that the area's dirty air violates the constitutional right to a healthy environment.
In the game
Mpumalanga coal belt flares up as Toxic air. The fix is a gesture: tap when the ring hits the green zone. Done right, it becomes Air cleared 🌤️. Finish all three steps of its chain in one round for a combo, or take your time in Explore mode: a place you fully restore stays green on your map for good.
🧭 Fly there and restore it▶ Play a 60-second round