Explore the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker
The Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker (GGIT) collects asset-level data on gas transmission pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals globally. Explore the data below, pan through our interactive map, and download the dataset here.
The dominance of gas over time
Gas transmission pipelines carry methane gas across continents. They are complicated to build and can last for decades. Today, over 1 million km of these pipelines snake across Earth, facilitating the export and import of gas globally. An additional 8.5% is in development.
The rate of the building and startup of gas transmission pipelines has been fairly consistent since the mid-1990s. The past two years have seen a drop, possibly a result of Covid-19 impacts on the world economy and the knock-on effect on infrastructure development.
Where gas pipelines are being built
Asia leads the planned global buildout, but ambitions are widespread. The four original BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), as well as the United States and Australia, are at the top of the list. China in particular is building an unprecedented transmission network to bring gas access to most of its provinces.
The companies betting on gas most
Nearly all leading pipeline developers are state-owned enterprises.
The developers at the forefront of this buildout are in countries historically reliant on coal, like China and India, which see gas as a transition fuel. Other leaders highlight ongoing expansions across Europe, Africa, and South America.
The buildout will be costly
China, Russia, and the United States have the priciest gas pipeline buildouts. But essentially, every continent will pay a lot to build more gas infrastructure, whether to bolster import capacity or send more gas abroad. Historical exporters in particular, like the United States and Australia, are planning tens of billions of dollars worth of capital expenditure in an effort to double down on gas.
Download data from the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker, including pipeline routes in GIS format, here.