The article discusses how South Africa's greenhouse gas emissions were measured in 1998 using their energy balance data. They looked at where energy comes from and how it's used to figure out how much greenhouse gases are produced. The research showed that coal is a major energy source in South Africa, making up 70% of their total energy supply. The burning of coal is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the country, accounting for almost 75% of the total emissions. This information helps experts analyze different economic policies related to energy production and consumption in South Africa.