Global Energy Monitor

Definition of a Project Unit

For each category of infrastructure, the typical unit is described below:

  • LNG terminals: The unit is typically a whole LNG terminal, but sometimes an LNG terminal has different phases in which the capacity is expanded over time by adding more trains (for export terminals) or with more regasification capacity (for import terminals).
  • Gas pipelines: The unit is typically a particular length of pipeline, added (or planned to be added) by a particular company at a particular time. However, some existing pipelines are listed as whole networks. 
  • Oil and Gas power plants: The unit is a generator within each plant. For combined cycle sets (with one or more gas turbines working together with one or more steam turbines), the 50 MW threshold is applied to the whole combined cycle set. For internal combustion units, or those units that have multiple identically sized engines, the threshold applies to the total capacity of the set of engines.
  • Gas extraction sites: The unit is typically an individual gas field; however, the unit used depends on how the area is defined and how production is reported by the sources consulted (e.g., a government agency).

Architecture

The Africa Gas Tracker uses a two-level system for organizing information. Key data is maintained in a database, at the level of individual pipelines or LNG terminals, at the level of generating units for oil and gas-fired power plants, and at the level of fields for gas extraction sites. Each project has a corresponding wiki page on GEM.wiki in which the data is presented, together with links to sources, additional narrative information, and a map of the project site.

Research Process

Gas Pipelines and LNG Terminals

Data for gas pipelines and LNG terminals is drawn from GEM’s Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker (GGIT). For more details, see the GGIT methodology.

Oil and Gas Power Plants

Data for gas power plants is drawn from GEM’s Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker (GOGPT). For more details, see the GOGPT methodology.

Gas Extraction Sites

For gas extraction sites, data is drawn from GEM’s Global Oil and Gas Extraction Tracker (GOGET). For more details, see the GOGET methodology.