China, India lead gas pipeline construction in 2022: Global Energy Monitor

The two markets are estimated to account for more than US$40b of construction costs.

China and India led the global gas transmission pipeline construction in 2020, which saw a 9% year-on-year increase, Global Energy Monitor reported. 

According to its Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker, China currently has 17,800 kilometres of gas pipeline in construction with an estimated cost of US$21.9b. 

India, meanwhile, has a 14,300-km pipeline build-out worth US$20.7b. This is followed by Iran, Russia, and Pakistan

“Building more gas pipelines when the world needs to urgently quit fossil fuels is a worrying trend. This infrastructure risks becoming a stranded asset as countries move towards renewable energy systems,” Baird Langenbrunner, Project Manager for the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker, said.

Read more: Asia’s gas demand to remain flat in 2022: report

Globally, there are 59,100 km of gas transmission pipelines under construction and an additional 151,300 km of proposed pipelines. 

These pipelines are estimated to cost US$533.6b in capital expenditure.