PIPE DREAMS

Global Energy Monitor identifies 193,400 km of gas pipelines in construction or pre-construction, representing a US$485.8 billion stranded asset risk. The report highlights that China, India, Russia, Australia, the U.S., and Brazil are leading this expansion despite IEA warnings that gas usage must peak soon to align with the 1.5°C net-zero scenario. While some financial institutions and 39 countries have committed to ending public finance for fossil fuels by 2022, the gas industry continues to push for massive infrastructure growth, often justified by the potential for future hydrogen upcycling.

• There are 193,400 km of gas pipelines globally in either construction (70,900 km) or pre-construction development (122,500 km), with an estimated total capital expenditure of US$485.8 billion.
• China is the global leader in gas pipeline development, with 56,100 km of pipelines in construction or proposed, creating a stranded asset risk of US$89.1 billion. This growth is driven by the conglomerate PipeChina and the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025).
• India ranks second globally in development with 18,400 km of pipelines in construction or proposed, representing a US$14.7 billion stranded asset risk. The government aims to increase the gas fraction of the energy mix to 15% by 2030 through the "one nation, one gas grid" plan.
• Russia's pipeline expansion, totaling 13,300 km in construction or proposed, carries a stranded asset risk of US$55.8 billion. Efforts are focused on increasing exports to European and Asia-Pacific markets, including the Power of Siberia and Nord Stream 2 projects.
• Australia has 12,800 km of pipelines in construction or proposed, with a stranded asset risk of US$18.6 billion. This is part of a "gas-fired recovery" and the 2021 National Gas Infrastructure Plan (NGIP), which prioritizes production in the Otway, Bass, and Gippsland Basins.
• In the United States, 9,300 km of pipelines are in development at a cost of US$47.6 billion, concentrated in Appalachia and the Gulf Coast. The buildout of Gulf Coast infrastructure for LNG exports has contributed to domestic gas shortages and higher prices.
• Brazil's gas pipeline development, totaling 8,100 km in construction or proposed, represents a US$22.2 billion stranded asset risk. Expansion is driven by the New Gas Law, which promotes competition and unbundling of the market previously dominated by Petrobras.
• Financial pressure on the industry is increasing as 39 countries committed at COP26 to end international public finance for unabated fossil fuels by the end of 2022, potentially removing US$24 billion per year from the sector.

APA

Langenbrunner, B., Joly, J., & Aitken, G. (2022). PIPE DREAMS. Global Energy Monitor. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM_GasPipelineReport2022_r7_11.pdf

Chicago

Langenbrunner, Baird, Julie Joly, and Greig Aitken. PIPE DREAMS. Global Energy Monitor, 2022. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM_GasPipelineReport2022_r7_11.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Langenbrunner |first1=Baird |last2=Joly |first2=Julie |last3=Aitken |first3=Greig |title=PIPE DREAMS |publisher=Global Energy Monitor |date=February 2022 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM_GasPipelineReport2022_r7_11.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{langenbrunner2022pipe, author = {Langenbrunner, Baird and Joly, Julie and Aitken, Greig}, title = {{PIPE DREAMS}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2022}, month = feb, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM_GasPipelineReport2022_r7_11.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }