2022 Global Gas Flaring

Tracker Report
2 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report
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2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 3
Foreword
2021 was yet another turbulent year for the oil and gas industry, We explore several oil-producing countries where absolute flare
with rising oil prices, tight oil and gas markets, high energy prices, volumes have decreased and some where they have increased,
and the ongoing recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. However, despite commitments and efforts to end flaring. Unfortunately,
despite these challenges, the UN Climate Change Conference flaring increases are not limited to those countries highlighted in
of the Parties (COP26) and Global Methane Pledge (GMP) this report. We urge all governments and operators to carefully
underscored once again the growing urgency for governments, assess how they are producing oil and to identify and seize
companies, and development organizations to accelerate opportunities for effective decarbonization.
decarbonizing the global economy. This is a pressing need, brought
With less than a decade to go until the global ambition of Zero
to the fore by the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year and
Routine Flaring by 2030, it is time for swift and determined
its dramatic impact on energy security across the world.
action. Our team at the World Bank will continue to support
In 2021, 144 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas was needlessly this effort, especially in developing countries, and work closely
flared at upstream oil and gas facilities across the globe. We with governments and oil companies to overcome the barriers to
estimate that this gas flaring resulted in approximately 400 flaring reduction.
million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions
globally last year. Ending this polluting practice must be central
to decarbonization efforts. Not only could the gas wasted displace
dirtier fuels and increase energy access in some of the world’s
poorest countries, but by utilizing the gas that is currently being
flared, the world could make significant progress towards much-
needed energy security. For example, the volume of gas flared Zubin Bamji
worldwide is greater than the European Union's 27 member states Program Manager
gas imports from Russia. Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership
World Bank
Flaring reduction also plays a critical role in mitigating methane
emissions, by eliminating a direct source of methane released
un-combusted from flares and enabling the gas successfully
conserved through reductions in venting and fugitive emissions
to be utilized rather than flared. This raises the often-overlooked
importance of integrating the decarbonization of the oil and gas
sector into wider climate initiatives and discussions.
With this in mind, we’re keen to understand not only how much
gas was flared in 2021, but where countries have made progress
and where the greatest opportunities for flaring abatement
remain. GGFR’s 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker, a leading global
and independent indicator of gas flaring, found that despite
strong early progress, reductions in both absolute flare volumes
and flaring intensity have plateaued over the last decade;
impressive reductions in some countries have unfortunately been
offset by concerning increases in others.
4 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 5

Plateau at a Time for Progress

Despite strong early progress since satellite observations Global gas flaring and oil production 1996 to 2021 (flaring only at upstream oil & gas and LNG plants)
began in 1996, reductions in flaring have plateaued over
the last decade, marking a period of disappointing progress Gas flaring Oil production

100
during a time of increased international focus on the 225
urgency of greenhouse gas emissions reduction and the 90

energy transition. 200

80

175
Global gas flaring volumes have remained largely static over 70

the last 10 years, plateauing at around 144 bcm. During this 150

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

60

Flare volume (bcm)

same period, global oil production levels rose slightly before
125
dropping in 2020 due to the impacts of the Covid pandemic,

Photo credit: © Bulat Iskhakov / ShutterStock

50

averaging around 80 million barrels of oil per day. However, 100

40

the global perspective obscures the significant flare reduction 75

30
progress made by some countries – with the reduction
achieved only to be offset by increases in flaring by others. 50 20

25 10
A similar story emerges when we consider flaring intensity,
the volume of gas flared per barrel of oil produced; the initial 0 0

improvements are evident, only to plateau again over the 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021

last decade.
Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR

Change in flare volume between 2012 and 2021 (individual countries with most significant change (+ or – 0.6 bcm) indicated, rest of world combined,
overall global change of +1.3 bcm) Percentage reductions in flaring intensity 1996 to 2021: global average, GGFR and non-GGFR partner countries

Increase Decrease Total

Global GGFR partner countries Non GGFR partner countries
20
0

18 0.6
2.2 -5%

16 -0.7 -10%
3.0 -0.7
-0.7
14 -15%
Flare volume change 2012 - 2021 (bcm)

-1.2
12 5.1 -1.4 -20%

Change in flaring intensity

-1.4
10 -25%

-1.9
8 -30%
6.3
6 -2.5 -35%

4 -40%
-2.5
-45%
2 1.3
-3.0 -50%
0

-55%
Iran

Iraq

Russia

Mexico

Argentina

Colombia

Brazil

United States

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

Angola

Indonesia

Kazakhastan

Rest of World

Nigeria

Total

-60%

1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021

Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFR
6 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 7

Top Ten Countries Account for 75 percent of all Flaring

In 2021, the top 10 flaring countries (on an absolute volume basis) produced than any other country. The intensity perspective also Flare volumes for the top 30 flaring countries from 2012 to 2021 (sorted by 2021 volume, shown in red)
accounted for 75 percent of all gas flaring and 50 percent of suggests there are opportunities to improve flaring performance in
global oil production. oil-producing countries such as Algeria, the Republic of the Congo, 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
27,500
Gabon, and Turkmenistan.
Seven of the top 10 flaring countries have held this position 25,000
consistently for the last 10 years: Russia, Iraq, Iran, the United Considering again the top 10 flaring countries on a volume basis, 22,500
States, Venezuela, Algeria, and Nigeria. The remaining three; Russia, Iraq, the United States, Nigeria, and Mexico have all 20,000
Mexico, Libya, and China, have shown significant flaring increases committed to the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 (ZRF)
17,500

Flare volume (bcm)

in recent years. Initiative, which commits governments and companies to (a) not
15,000
routinely flare gas in any new oil field development, and (b) to end
When we consider flaring intensity, fragile, conflict-affected, 12,500
routine flaring in existing oil fields as soon as possible and no later
and insecure countries, such as Venezuela, Syria, and Yemen are 10,000
than 2030. However, over the past decade, only the United States
among the worst performers, flaring more gas per barrel of oil 7,500
has successfully improved the flaring intensity of its oil production.
5,000

2,500

0.0

Ecuador

Qatar
Russia

Iraq

Iran

United States

Venezuela

Algeria

Nigeria

Mexico

Libya

China

Oman

Egypt

Saudi Arabia

Malaysia

Angola

Indonesia

Rep of the Congo

Kazakhastan

India

Gabon

Argentina

Turkmenistan

Canada

Syria

Yemen

Brazil

UAE

United Kingdom
Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR

Flaring intensity for the top 30 flaring countries from 2012 to 2021 (sorted by 2021 volume, shown in red)

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
90

80

70

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

60

50

40

30

20
Photo credit: © Opsorman / Shutterstock

10

Ecuador

Qatar
Russia

Iraq

Iran

United States

Venezuela

Algeria

Nigeria

Mexico

Libya

China

Oman

Egypt

Saudi Arabia

Malaysia

Angola

Indonesia

Rep of the Congo

Kazakhastan

India

Gabon

Argentina

Turkmenistan

Canada

Syria

Yemen

Brazil

UAE

United Kingdom
Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFR
8 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 9

Key Trends
In this report, we explore promising progress in a few case study two countries. It should be noted that these case studies are not United States flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021
countries and connect those findings to those of our Global intended to present a comprehensive analysis of progress (or lack

The United States

Flare volume Flare intensity
Flaring and Venting Regulations: A Comparative Review of Policies thereof) in flaring reduction.
20 8
study where relevant. We also share some worrying trends in
7

15 6

4th

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

2021 Flare

Flare volume (bcm)

5

volume rank: 10 4

Promising Reductions 5
3

Kazakhstan flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021

2012-2021 2012-2021 1

0 0

8%* 46%
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Kazakhstan
Flare volume Flare intensity

Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFR
5 8
reduction reduction in
4
7
in flaring flaring intensity
6

18th
United States flare volume versus oil production, 2012 to 2021

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

2021 Flare
Flare volume (bcm)

3 5

volume rank: 4
*51 percent reduction in Shale oil basins Flaring volume Oil production
2 3 between 2019 and 2021 alone
20 14
2
1 12

2012-2021 2012-2021 1
15
10

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

Flare volume (bcm)
0 0

62% 67%
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 The United States is the only one of the top 10 flaring countries to 8
have successfully reduced absolute flare volumes while increasing 10
6
Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFR
reduction reduction in production over the last decade—decreasing its flaring intensity
4
5
in flaring flaring intensity by 46 percent. However, in terms of absolute volume reductions,
2

Kazakhstan flare volume versus oil production, 2012 to 2021 the United States achieved an 8 percent reduction over the last
0 0
decade, which somewhat masks the recent progress made to 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Flaring volume Oil production reduce flaring in the shale oil basins of the Permian, Bakken, and
Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR, EIA
5 2.0
Eagleford. These fields represented 89 percent of all US flaring in
Kazakhstan has achieved the largest overall flare reduction of all
4
2021, and flaring has reduced by 51 percent since 2019, when oil
countries during the last 10 years, reducing absolute flaring from 1.5
Oil production (mln bbl/d)
production from these regions peaked. This reduction appears to United States gas import, export and total final consumption indicting
Flare volume (bcm)

4 bcm in 2012 to 1.5 bcm in 2021. In addition to reducing routine 3 increase in both export and total final consumption over last decade
have been achieved by increasing domestic gas utilization and the (modified data, taken from IEA, 2021)
flaring over these years, anecdotal evidence suggests there have 1.0
2 export of natural gas in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG),
also been improvements in equipment reliability and production
0.5
enabled by increased pipeline infrastructure and capacity. Imports Exports Total final consumption
efficiency leading to a reduction in non-routine flaring. This 1
400
progress has been enabled by strictly enforced regulations that Our just-released Global Flaring and Venting Regulations: A
0 0 300
apply financial penalties for gas flaring, coupled with a well- 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Comparative Review of Policies study explores the regulatory

Flare volume (bcm)

200
established domestic gas market and integrated gas value chain context in the main flaring regions, specifically Texas (Permian,
Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR, EIA
to incentivize flare gas recovery. The case study for Kazakhstan Eagleford) and North Dakota (Bakken). In Texas, in particular, there 100

in Global Flaring and Venting Regulations: A Comparative Review of has been significantly increased pressure by multiple stakeholders 0

Policies provides more details on the regulatory frameworks in to reduce flaring over recent years. While regulators made flaring -100

the country. and venting regulation more stringent in 2020, there is evidence
-200
that application and enforcement of the regulations could be more 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

rigorous to support the positive trend in reduced flaring.

Source: IEA
10 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 11

Promising Reductions
Colombia flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021 Nigeria flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021

Colombia Nigeria
Flare volume Flare intensity
Flare volume Flare intensity

1.2 3.5 11 12
10
1.0 3.0 9 10

37th 7th
2.5

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

2021 Flare 2021 Flare

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

Flare volume (bcm)

8

Flare volume (bcm)

0.8 7
2.0
volume rank: 0.6
1.5
volume rank: 6
5
6

0.4 4
4
1.0
3
0.2 0.5 2 2
2012-2021 2012-2021 0 0.0
2012-2021 2012-2021 1
0 0

67% 57% 31% 10%*

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFR Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFR
reduction reduction in reduction increase in
in flaring flaring intensity in flaring flaring intensity
Colombia flare volume versus oil production, 2012 to 2021 Nigeria flare volume versus oil production 1996 to 2021, demonstrating
significant earlier progress to reduce flare volumes
Flaring volume Oil production
*68% reduction since 1996
1.2 1.2 Flaring volume Oil production

Despite not being a significant contributor to overall global flare 1.0 1.0 30 8.0

volumes, Colombia’s progress in flare reduction and its recent 7.0

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

25
Flare volume (bcm)

0.8 0.8
6.0
leadership in developing regulation on methane emissions make Nigeria has made significant progress in flare reduction since

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

Flare volume (bcm)
0.6 0.6 20
5.0
it worthy of mention. Flare volumes in Colombia reduced from 1 observations began, in no small part due to the commissioning
0.4 0.4 15 4.0
bcm in 2012 to 0.3 bcm in 2021, enabled by a well-established and startup of several major projects to recover and export 3.0
domestic gas market for local gas utilization and strong 0.2 0.2
associated gas, including associated gas processing and export
10
2.0
regulations which strictly prohibit and monetarily penalize any 0 0.0 via the Bonny liquefied natural gas plant. However, flaring 5
1.0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
unauthorized gas flaring and wasting of gas. In February of this intensity has increased as production has declined over the last 0 0
1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021
year, Colombia was one of the first countries worldwide to pass Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR, EIA 10 years. The satellite data suggests that, while the largest
regulation on flaring, venting and fugitive methane emissions, flaring fields have been addressed, there remain many smaller, Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR, EIA
following its signing of the GMP during COP26. In addition to more disparate fields where flare elimination and gas utilization
Colombia total final gas consumption indicating increase in domestic
government action, the national oil company, Ecopetrol, is a gas consumption as Colombia does not import gas (data taken from IEA, is more challenging. This issue is not unique to Nigeria and is
values in petajoules (PJ) converted to bcm assuming an average natural
ZRF endorser and has an interim target to reduce flaring by gas heating value of 45 cubic meters per megajoule) likely to be experienced by many other oil-producing countries
77 percent by 2022 from 2017 levels. Ecopetrol has linked its as they advance efforts to eliminate routine flaring.
targets to Colombia’s Nationally Determined Contribution Total final consumption

(NDC) to the Paris Agreement, which specifically calls out gas 4.5

Photo credit: © Vanhurck / Shutterstock

4.0
utilization as an opportunity. In parallel, Ecopetrol has recently
3.5
initiated an aerial survey of methane emissions from its oil and
Flare volume (bcm)

3.0
gas production facilities. 2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

Source: IEA
12 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 13

Worrying Increases
Mexico flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021 Iraq flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021

Mexico Iraq
Flare volume Flare intensity Flare volume Flare intensity

8 12 20 18
18 16
7
10 16 14
6

8th 2nd
14

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)
2021 Flare 2021 Flare

Flare volume (bcm)

12

Flare volume (bcm)

8
5 12
10
volume rank: 4 6 volume rank: 10
8
8
3
4 6
6
2 4
4
2
2012-2021 2012-2021 1
2012-2021 2012-2021 2 2

0 0 0 0

53% 126% 41% 3%

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFR Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFR
increase increase in increase increase in
in flaring flaring intensity in flaring flaring intensity
Mexico flare volume versus oil production, 2012 to 2021
Iraq flare volume versus oil production, 2012 to 2021
Flaring volume Oil production

7.0 3.0 Flaring volume Oil production

20 5.0
6.0 2.5
Despite oil production declining over the last 10 years, Mexico Over the last decade, flaring has steadily increased in Iraq, with 18 4.5
5.0

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

16
has increased flaring by over 50 percent, with a sharp uptick volumes rising from 13 bcm in 2012 to almost 18 bcm in 2021, 4.0
Flare volume (bcm)

2.0

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

14

Flare volume (bcm)

4.0 3.5
since 2018, rising from 3.8 bcm to 6.5 bcm in 2021. This increase 1.5 accounting for around 12 percent of total global flaring. At the 12
3.0
3.0
suggests oil production is occurring at wells with higher gas- 1.0
same time, Iraq is importing natural gas; about 10 bcm in 2020. 10
2.5
8
2.0
to-oil ratios and, with no outlet for the gas, the additional gas Flare gas recovery and associated gas utilization are significant 6
2.0

1.0 0.5 1.5

produced is flared. Additionally, in the Marine Region, where the opportunities for Iraq, which is both a GGFR partner and 4
2 1.0
0
highest gas volumes are flared, the use of nitrogen for artificial 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
0
endorser of the ZRF initiative and has gas utilization reduction 0 0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
lift results in the production of gas with a high nitrogen content, cited in its NDC.
which cannot be accepted in the domestic gas network. As a Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR, EIA
Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR, EIA
result, a large amount of this gas is flared both offshore and at
Mexico domestic gas production, import and total final consumption
onshore gas processing plants. Mexico’s focus over the last few 1990 to 2020, indicating increase in gas export and decrease in
years has been on energy security, however the increase in gas production (data taken from IEA, values in petajoules (PJ) converted to
bcm assuming an average natural gas heating value of 45 cubic meters per Iraq natural gas production, import and total consumption
flaring has occurred while Mexico has also steadily increased megajoule, 2020 values provisional) (data taken from bp Statistical Review of World Energy, July 2021)
natural gas imports, highlighting the potential flare gas recovery
could play in its energy independence. Total gas supply Gas production Gas imports Dry natural gas consumption Dry natural gas production Natural gas imports

80 25

70
20
60
Natural gas volume (bcm)

Natural gas volume (bcm)

50 15
40
10
Photo credit: © GGFR

30

20
5
10

0 0
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2005 2010 2015 2020

Source: IEA Source: IEA, bp Statistical Review of World Energy, July 2021
 14 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 15

A Wasteful Practice, Crucial to Tackling Methane Emissions

Gas flaring is a wasteful practice that burns a valuable
energy source that could be used to enhance economic
development, provide increased energy security, and
potentially displace dirtier energy sources. The 144 bcm
of natural gas flared in 2021 could have potentially
generated some 1,800 Terawatt hours (TWh) of energy,
almost two-thirds of the European Union’s net domestic
electricity generation.
This highlights the importance of flare reduction and
gas management to overall oil and gas decarbonization
strategies.
Estimated emissions from gas flaring in 2021 in million tonnes
of CO2 equivalants
Methane

Tackling gas flaring is also critical, given its role in global 39

methane emissions. Methane is a more potent greenhouse
gas than CO2 but has a shorter atmospheric lifetime.
Therefore, reducing methane emissions is one of the fastest,
most effective ways to slow the rate of climate change.

Gas flaring is a direct source of methane (see box below)

CO₂
and efforts to eliminate flaring also eliminate the
361
associated methane emissions.

However, flare elimination efforts also support methane

reductions from other sources, such as venting and fugitive
releases. Without an outlet to export or utilize the gas, any
methane conserved from these sources will ultimately be
sent to flare and while there may be an overall emissions
reduction, methane is still released, and this valuable
energy source is still wasted. Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR

Why is flaring a source of methane?

Methane is emitted from flares as flares do not completely combust all the hydrocarbons in the gas stream.

In our estimates, we assume:

• A flare destruction efficiency of 98 percent, assuming 2 percent methane is released uncombusted.

• The gas flared has a composition comprising 81 percent methane, with the remaining comprising heavier
hydrocarbons (e.g. ethane, propane, butane).
• Methane has a global warming potential 25 times greater than CO2on a 100-year basis, consistent with the IPCC
Photo credit: © Leonid Ikan / Shutterstock

Fourth Assessment Report.

With these assumptions, we estimate that 2021 flaring resulted in 400 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions
(MMtCO2e), of which 361 MMtCO2e was in the form of CO2 and 39 MMtCO2e was in the form of uncombusted methane.
16 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 17

Mixed Progress Towards Zero Routine Flaring

In 2015, the World Bank launched the ZRF initiative, which Percentage of 2021 flare volumes occurring in ZRF endorsing countries Percentage change in flare volume versus flaring intensity between 2016 and 2021, top 30 flaring countries only, ZRF endorsing countries indicated.
Bubble size is 2021 flare volume
commits endorsing governments and companies to end routine
flaring by 2030. 2022 marks an important mid-point on this
ZRF endosers Non-ZRF endosers
journey, so we take an opportunity to reflect on progress to date.

Although 34 governments have endorsed the ZRF initiative,

and committed to creating an enabling environment for flare
Non-endorsing Argentina
reduction investments, there has been mixed progress to date. countries
Some endorsing governments have successfully achieved both 39% Endorsing
Poor performance to date:
countries
a reduction in absolute flare volume and flaring intensity since these countries have increased
61% 100% both flare volumes and flaring
2016, which indicates that flare reductions are not solely due to
intensity since 2016
a decline in production. However, tremendous opportunities for
improvement remain for some of the largest flaring countries,
such as Russia, Iraq, and Mexico, all of whom were endorsers of
the initiative in 2016 and have since experienced an increase in
absolute flare volumes and flaring intensity.
Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR
Mexico

% Change Flare Intensity 2016-2021

Iran
Change in flaring intensity 2016 to 2021: global average, ZRF endorsing 50%
countries and non-ZRF endorsing countries Syria

Global ZRF endosers Non-ZRF endosers China

20% Ecuador
Iraq
Nigeria
Algeria
15%
Gabon
Russia
Saudi Arabia
0%
10% Oman
Egypt
India Rep of the Congo
Turkmenistan

5% Libya
Malaysia

Indonesia United States

Photo credit: © Opsorman / Shutterstock

0%
Canada
Better performance to date:
Angola these countries have decreased
both flare volumes and flaring
-50%
-5% intensity since 2016
Kazakhstan

-50% 0% 50% 100% 150%

-10%
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
% Change Flare 2016-2021

Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFR Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFR
18 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 19

Imported Flare Gas Index

2021 IFG Index Results

14
Russian Federation Libya United Kingdom

13 Nigeria Iraq Gabon

Algeria United States Egypt
12
Kazakhstan Malaysia Tunisa

11 Mexico Cameroon Others

Imported Flare Gas (IFG) Index (m3/bbl)

10

Estonia

Australia

Switzerland

Greece

Spain

Slovakia

Norway

Italy

Austria

Belarus

Romania

France

Finland

Lithuania

Bulgaria

Poland

Hungary

Netherlands

Germnay

Portugal

Czech Republic

United Kingdom

Canada

United States

Denmark

Croatia

Russian Federation

Sweden

New Zealand

Ireland

Japan

Belgium

Iceland

Luxembourg

Latvia
Photo credit: © Red_Shadow / Shutterstock.

Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines,, EIA, UN Comtrade, GGFR

IFG Index of Largest Crude Importing Countries (> 250 K bbl/day)

10.00

9.00 Greece

8.00
Spain Countries exposed to high flaring
Italy
7.00
India

Imported Flare Gas (IFG) Index (m3/bbl)

France
International Average
6.00 Thailand Flaring Intensity
Poland
In last year’s report, we introduced a new metric, the Imported The IFG Index can help oil-importing countries assess where flaring Netherlands Germany China
5.00
Flare Gas (IFG) Index, to infer the flaring associated with the hotspots are in their fossil fuel supply chain. This should lead
Singapore
crude oil imported by various countries around the world. This to a dialogue with the countries from which they import oil and 4.00
South Korea
new metric highlights the flaring consequences of certain crude potentially to assist in implementing flaring reduction initiatives, Canada
United Kingdom
United States
3.00
imports and shares the burden of responsibility for flaring thereby significantly improving the carbon emissions intensity of
Sweden
reduction between both countries that produce and the countries the oil they consume. 2.00
Japan
that import the crude oil. It is based on the premise that if a
Analysis of 2021 data suggests that many large crude oil- 1.00 Belgium
country is importing crude oil from producing countries, it is also
importing countries, such as Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands,
importing the flaring intensity of these producing countries in 0.00

are ‘exposed’ to high levels of gas flaring as they import crude 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 11000
proportion to the amount of crude oil imported. Crude Import (Kbbl/day)
from countries with a high flaring intensity, such as Russia, Libya,
Algeria, Iraq, and Mexico. Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, UN Comtrade, GGFR
20 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report
Concluding Reflections
While global flare volumes have remained largely static over the
last decade, the very significant reductions achieved by some
countries are encouraging and set an example for others.
Given the growing international focus on methane emissions and
acknowledging the important role the oil and gas industry could
play towards achieving climate goals, we call on governments
and companies to increase their focus and accelerate their
commitment to ending this wasteful industry practice by 2030.
On technology: while technology and innovation have an
important role to play, it is important to note that most flaring
is not due to a lack of available technology; it is due to a lack of
political will and leadership in developing appropriate markets and
infrastructure to recover and utilize the gas.
On regulation: effective regulation and strong enforcement
are paramount; our Global Flaring and Venting Regulations: A
Comparative Review of Policies study explores the many, and varied,
policy mechanisms that can be leveraged to both penalize gas
flaring and incentivize gas utilization.
On methane: eliminating routine flaring can offer a double win in
the shared endeavor to reduce global methane emissions by:
Photo credit: © Essam al-Sudani / Shutterstock.
2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report 21
• eliminating a direct source of methane released un-combusted
from flares; and
• enabling the gas successfully conserved through reductions in
venting and fugitive emissions to be utilized rather than flared.
On decarbonization: the utilization of flared gas presents an
opportunity to put a valuable, wasted energy source to beneficial
use. Natural gas can help reduce the carbon intensity of the global
energy mix, with the ability to replace coal and liquid fuels quickly,
allowing time for the development and implementation of low and
no carbon sources such as renewables and green hydrogen.
On timing: Infrastructure projects needed to connect flares to
markets can take years to be developed and operational. If Zero
Routine Flaring by 2030 is to be achieved, action must be swift
and determined.
Despite the 10-year plateau in flaring, we remain hopeful that
significant progress on flaring can be made over the next few
years, but this will require strong regulation and effective
collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Photo credit: © eleonimages / Shutterstock.
 Methodology
The World Bank’s role The 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report is produced on an annual basis
in gas flaring reduction by the World Bank’s GGFR, comprised of governments, oil companies,
and international institutions working to end routine gas flaring at oil
The World Bank’s GGFR works closely with production sites around the world. GGFR, in partnership with the US NOAA
governments and oil companies to help assess and The Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines,
technologies, develop policies and regulations, has developed global gas flaring estimates based upon observations from
and build capacity to end routine flaring satellites launched in 2012 and 2017. The advanced sensors of this satellite
by 2030. We are also continuing to secure detect the heat emitted by gas flares as infrared emissions at global
commitments for the Zero Routine Flaring by upstream oil and gas facilities.
2030 initiative, Zero Routine Flaring by 2030
The Colorado School of Mines and GGFR quantify these infrared emissions
initiative, building upon the 87 government
and calibrate them using country-level data collected by a third-party data
and oil company endorsers that, together,
supplier, Cedigaz, to produce robust estimates of global gas flaring volumes.
account for close to 60 percent of global
The satellite data for estimating flare gas volumes is collected by NOAA’s
flaring. Ending routine gas flaring is critical
satellite-mounted Visual and Infrared Radiometer Suite of detectors (VIIRS).
if governments and companies are to deliver
their products in the cleanest manner possible, VIIRS has a multispectral set of infrared detectors which:
meet net-zero targets, and maintain their
• at nighttime respond only to heat emissions and hence are not affected by
license to operate, especially in developing
sunlight, moonlight or other light sources
countries where millions lack access to energy.
• respond to wavelengths where emissions from flares are at a maximum

To do this, we must test and scale innovative • overfly every flare several times per night
approaches, while considering new solutions • have excellent spatial resolution.
that treat associated gas as an asset, not
a waste product. Such approaches must The ability of VIIRS to detect and discriminate hot sources, such as
also be tailored to the unique circumstances gas flares, enables flares to be detected automatically with minimal
and context of a particular country, or even manual intervention. Emissions from non-flare hot sources (e.g. biomass
a specific oil production site. We need to burning) can be removed from the data by selecting only emissions with
work collaboratively with governments and temperatures above 1100C; other hot sources burn at lower temperatures.
oil companies to develop holistic policies, Indeed, flares burn hotter than any other terrestrial hot sources, including
considering a range of incentives and volcanos. Since the first year of year of operation in 2012, VIIRS has
penalties, to finally put an end to this practice. automatically detected ~10,000 flares annually around the globe.

References:
Elvidge, C.D.; Zhizhin, M.; Hsu, F.-C.; Baugh, K.E. VIIRS Nightfire: Satellite Pyrometry at Night. Remote Sens. 2013, 5, 4423-4449. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs5094423
Elvidge, C.D.; Zhizhin, M.; Baugh, K.; Hsu, F.-C.; Ghosh, T. Methods for Global Survey of Natural Gas Flaring from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Data. Energies 2016, 9, 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/en9010014

Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR) Multi-Donor Trust Fund

1850 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
ggfr@worldbank.org