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Maguire, Where global LNG and gas infrastructure is growing

The fossil fuel industry is seeing its most significant growth in the LNG and natural gas sectors, as demand for coal and oil has been stifled by electrification and efficiency gains.

Gas is increasingly being used by governments and utilities to meet the growing electricity demand, and provide reliable power along with expanding renewable energy sources. This has triggered a global investment wave in pipelines, LNG export and import infrastructure, and gas-fired generators.

Eight key charts are shown below that illustrate the regions and countries driving this growth.

Power Play

Global Energy Monitor data shows that Asia dominates global gas-fired generation capacity, both in use and under construction.

Asia's 950,000 megawatts of operational capacity is comparable to?about 735, 000 MW in the Americas and exceeds approximately 366,000 MW throughout Europe.

Asia is building an additional 140,000 megawatts (MW) or more, which is three times as much as any other region.

The U.S., with its 562,000 MW of gas-fired capacity, has the highest operating capacity, while China is the country with the most capacity in construction.

THE PIPELINE PIPELINE

Gas pipelines in the Americas are currently more than 490,000 km long (304,471 mi).

This total is more than the 281,000 km of pipes in Asia and 262,680 km in Europe.

Asia has the largest pipeline capacity currently under construction with 56,000 km.

China is the country with the most pipelines, having built nearly 22,000 km, followed by India, which has built nearly 15,000 km.

The Footprint for LNG Export

The U.S. has the biggest LNG export capacity and is the top producer of gas in the world. However, Asia, with its extensive export infrastructure that stretches from the Middle East to Southeast Asia, ranks first.

GEM data indicates that the U.S. has also built up the largest LNG export capacity, currently at around 100 million tons per year.

LNG Import Growth

Asia is the top LNG-importing country in the world. It dominates the landscape of the existing import infrastructure and the capacity that's under construction.

Japan is the country with the most established import infrastructure. It has 242 millions tons of import capacity per year. China, with 97 millions tons of import capacity in construction, has the largest lead.

Once built, energy infrastructure is likely to last.

Natural gas is a dominant energy source in the world. The vast number of gas-fired power plants, pipeline networks, and LNG facilities that are already operational or under construction suggest this.

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(source: Reuters)