2022 Global Gas Flaring
Tracker Report

22022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

Foreword© 2022 International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development / The World Bank
1818 H Street NW
Washington DC 20433
Telephone: 202-473-1000
Internet: www.worldbank.org

2021 was yet another turbulent year for the oil and gas industry,

We explore several oil-producing countries where absolute flarewith 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 inof the Parties (COP26) and Global Methane Pledge (GMP)

this report. We urge all governments and operators to carefully

This work is a product of the staff of The WorldBank with external contributions. The findings,
interpretations, and conclusions expressed in thiswork do not necessarily reflect the views of The
World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or thegovernments they represent.

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.

The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy,completeness, or currency of the data included inthis work and does not assume responsibility for any
errors, omissions, or discrepancies in the information,or liability with respect to the use of or failure to use
the information, methods, processes, or conclusions
set forth. The boundaries, colors, denominations, andother information shown on any map in this work
do not imply any judgment on the part of The WorldBank concerning the legal status of any territory or
the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries.
Nothing herein shall constitute or be construed orconsidered to be a limitation upon or waiver of theprivileges and immunities of The World Bank, all ofwhich are specifically reserved.

decarbonizing the global economy. This is a pressing need, brought
to the fore by the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year andits dramatic impact on energy security across the world.

The material in this work is subject to copyright.
Because The World Bank encourages disseminationof its knowledge, this work may be reproduced, inwhole or in part, for noncommercial purposes as longas full attribution to this work is given.
Any queries on rights and licenses, including
subsidiary rights, should be addressed toWorld Bank Publications,
The World Bank Group,1818 H Street NW,
Washington, DC 20433,
USA
Fax: 202-522-2625;
e-mail: pubrights@worldbank.org.
Cover Photo: Leonid Ikan/Shutterstock
Used with the permission.
Further permission required for reuse.

Routine Flaring by 2030, it is time for swift and determinedaction. 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 toestimate 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 muchneeded energy security. For example, the volume of gas flared
worldwide is greater than the European Union's 27 member statesgas imports from Russia.

Rights and Permissions

With less than a decade to go until the global ambition of Zero

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 muchgas 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.

Zubin Bamji
Program Manager
Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership
World Bank3

42022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

52022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

Plateau at a Time for Progress
Despite strong early progress since satellite observations
began in 1996, reductions in flaring have plateaued overthe last decade, marking a period of disappointing progress
during a time of increased international focus on theurgency of greenhouse gas emissions reduction and theenergy transition.

Global gas flaring and oil production 1996 to 2021 (flaring only at upstream oil & gas and LNG plants)

Gas flaring

Oil production

100
225
90
200
80

A similar story emerges when we consider flaring intensity,
the volume of gas flared per barrel of oil produced; the initial
improvements are evident, only to plateau again over thelast decade.

Flare volume (bcm)

60
125

50

100

40

75

30

50

20

25

10

0

0

1996

2001

2006

2011

2016

2021

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)
Increase

Decrease

Percentage reductions in flaring intensity 1996 to 2021: global average, GGFR and non-GGFR partner countries

Total

Global

20
18

2.2

0.6

3.0

-0.7

14

-10%

-0.7

-15%

-1.2
5.1

-1.4

Change in flaring intensity

12

-1.4

10

-1.9

8

6.3

-2.5

4

-2.5

2

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

Rest of World

Kazakhastan

Indonesia

AngolaUzbekistan

Turkmenistan

United States

BrazilColombia

Argentina

MexicoRussia

Iraq

Iran

0

-20%
-25%
-30%
-35%
-40%
-45%

-3.0

-50%

Nigeria

1.3

-55%

Total

Flare volume change 2012 - 2021 (bcm)

Non GGFR partner countries

-5%

-0.7

16

6

GGFR partner countries

0

-60%

1996

2001

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

2006

2011

2016

2021

Oil production (mln bbl/d)70
150

Photo credit: © Bulat Iskhakov / ShutterStock

Global gas flaring volumes have remained largely static overthe last 10 years, plateauing at around 144 bcm. During thissame period, global oil production levels rose slightly before
dropping in 2020 due to the impacts of the Covid pandemic,
averaging around 80 million barrels of oil per day. However,
the global perspective obscures the significant flare reduction
progress made by some countries – with the reduction
achieved only to be offset by increases in flaring by others.

175

6

2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

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

accounted for 75 percent of all gas flaring and 50 percent ofsuggests there are opportunities to improve flaring performance inglobal oil production.

oil-producing countries such as Algeria, the Republic of the Congo,

Considering again the top 10 flaring countries on a volume basis,

States, Venezuela, Algeria, and Nigeria. The remaining three;

Russia, Iraq, the United States, Nigeria, and Mexico have all

Mexico, Libya, and China, have shown significant flaring increases

committed to the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 (ZRF)

in recent years.

Initiative, which commits governments and companies to (a) not

and insecure countries, such as Venezuela, Syria, and Yemen areamong the worst performers, flaring more gas per barrel of oil

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

25,000consistently for the last 10 years: Russia, Iraq, Iran, the United

When we consider flaring intensity, fragile, conflict-affected,

2012
27,500Gabon, and Turkmenistan.

routinely flare gas in any new oil field development, and (b) to end
routine flaring in existing oil fields as soon as possible and no later
than 2030. However, over the past decade, only the United States

22,50020,000
Flare volume (bcm)

Seven of the top 10 flaring countries have held this position

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

17,50015,00012,50010,0007,500

has successfully improved the flaring intensity of its oil production.

5,000
2,500

United Kingdom

UAE

Brazil

Qatar

Yemen

Syria

CanadaTurkmenistan

Ecuador

Gabon

Argentina

India

Kazakhastan

Rep of the Congo

AngolaIndonesia

Malaysia

Saudi Arabia

Egypt

China

Oman

Libya

MexicoNigeria

Algeria

Venezuela

United States

Iran

Iraq

Russia0.0

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

60
50
40
30
20
10

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

United Kingdom

UAE

Brazil

Yemen

Qatar

Syria

CanadaTurkmenistan

EcuadorArgentina

Gabon

India

Kazakhastan

Rep of the Congo

Indonesia

AngolaMalaysia

Saudi Arabia

Egypt

Oman

China

Libya

MexicoNigeria

Algeria

Venezuela

United States

Iran

Iraq

0
RussiaPhoto credit: © Opsorman / Shutterstock

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

70

7

8

2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

92022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

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 notcountries and connect those findings to those of our Global

intended to present a comprehensive analysis of progress (or lack

Flaring and Venting Regulations: A Comparative Review of Policies

thereof) in flaring reduction.

study where relevant. We also share some worrying trends in2012-2021

8%*

Flare intensity

5

reductionin flaring

8

Flare volume (bcm)

5

3

4
2

3
2

1

2012-2021

0

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

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

02012 2013 2014 2015 20162017 2018 2019 2020 2021

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

Flaring volume

Oil production

20

14

reduce flaring in the shale oil basins of the Permian, Bakken, andEagleford. These fields represented 89 percent of all US flaring in

6
40

decade, which somewhat masks the recent progress made to
2.0

8
10

2

the United States achieved an 8 percent reduction over the last

Oil production

10

5by 46 percent. However, in terms of absolute volume reductions,

0

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

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

1.5

3
1.0
2
0.5

1

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

2021, and flaring has reduced by 51 percent since 2019, when oil

4
Flare volume (bcm)

2
1*51 percent reduction in Shale oil basins
between 2019 and 2021 alone

production over the last decade—decreasing its flaring intensity

production from these regions peaked. This reduction appears tohave been achieved by increasing domestic gas utilization and theexport of natural gas in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG),

United States gas import, export and total final consumption indicting
increase in both export and total final consumption over last decade(modified data, taken from IEA, 2021)

enabled by increased pipeline infrastructure and capacity.

Imports

Exports

Total final consumption

400

progress has been enabled by strictly enforced regulations that
0

0

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

established domestic gas market and integrated gas value chain
to incentivize flare gas recovery. The case study for Kazakhstan

3

United States flare volume versus oil production, 2012 to 2021

have successfully reduced absolute flare volumes while increasing

countries during the last 10 years, reducing absolute flaring fromapply financial penalties for gas flaring, coupled with a well-46%

reduction inflaring intensity

The United States is the only one of the top 10 flaring countries to

Kazakhstan has achieved the largest overall flare reduction of all

efficiency leading to a reduction in non-routine flaring. This

4122017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Flaring volume

also been improvements in equipment reliability and production

5
10

15

0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

5flaring over these years, anecdotal evidence suggests there have

6

0

1

Kazakhstan flare volume versus oil production, 2012 to 2021

4 bcm in 2012 to 1.5 bcm in 2021. In addition to reducing routine

2012-2021

Flare volume (bcm)

reduction inflaring intensity

4th

15

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

2020

2021

Our just-released Global Flaring and Venting Regulations: A

300

Comparative Review of Policies study explores the regulatory
context in the main flaring regions, specifically Texas (Permian,
Eagleford) and North Dakota (Bakken). In Texas, in particular, there

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

Policies provides more details on the regulatory frameworks into reduce flaring over recent years. While regulators made flaring

the country.

and venting regulation more stringent in 2020, there is evidence
that application and enforcement of the regulations could be more

Flare volume (bcm)

reductionin flaring

6

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

7

67%

8

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

Flare volume

462%

Flare intensity

5

Kazakhstan

2012-2021

Flare volume

20

Flare volume (bcm)2021 Flarevolume rank:

Kazakhstan flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021

18th

The United States

7

Promising Reductions

2021 Flarevolume rank:

United States flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021

200
100
0
-100
-200

1990

rigorous to support the positive trend in reduced flaring.
Source: IEA

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

10

2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

112022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

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

3.5

Flare volume (bcm)

1.0
0.5

0

0.0

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

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

reductionin flaring

Colombia flare volume versus oil production, 2012 to 2021
Flaring volume

it worthy of mention. Flare volumes in Colombia reduced from 1
bcm in 2012 to 0.3 bcm in 2021, enabled by a well-established

Flare volume (bcm)

Despite not being a significant contributor to overall global flareleadership in developing regulation on methane emissions makedomestic gas market for local gas utilization and strong
regulations which strictly prohibit and monetarily penalize any

increase inflaring intensity

Oil production

0

0.8

0.8

0.6

0.6

0.4

0.4

0.2

0.2

associated gas, including associated gas processing and export

0

0.0

via the Bonny liquefied natural gas plant. However, flaring

5

intensity has increased as production has declined over the last

0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Colombia total final gas consumption indicating increase in domesticgas consumption as Colombia does not import gas (data taken from IEA,
values in petajoules (PJ) converted to bcm assuming an average natural
gas heating value of 45 cubic meters per megajoule)

Nigeria has made significant progress in flare reduction sinceobservations began, in no small part due to the commissioning
and startup of several major projects to recover and export

utilization as an opportunity. In parallel, Ecopetrol has recently

3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0

1990

Source: IEA

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

7.0

20

5.0

15

4.0
3.0

10

2.0
1.0
0

1996

2001

2006

2011

2016

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

is more challenging. This issue is not unique to Nigeria and islikely to be experienced by many other oil-producing countries
as they advance efforts to eliminate routine flaring.

4.5

8.0

6.0

Total final consumption

4.0

Oil production

25

10 years. The satellite data suggests that, while the largest

Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR, EIA(NDC) to the Paris Agreement, which specifically calls out gas

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

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

1.0

2012

Flare volume (bcm)02012 2013 2014 2015 2016

1.0

targets to Colombia’s Nationally Determined Contribution

gas production facilities.

2

1

Flaring volume

more disparate fields where flare elimination and gas utilization

initiated an aerial survey of methane emissions from its oil and

4

3

30

flaring fields have been addressed, there remain many smaller,

77 percent by 2022 from 2017 levels. Ecopetrol has linked its

4*68% reduction since 1996

following its signing of the GMP during COP26. In addition to
ZRF endorser and has an interim target to reduce flaring by

6

5

Nigeria flare volume versus oil production 1996 to 2021, demonstrating
significant earlier progress to reduce flare volumes

regulation on flaring, venting and fugitive methane emissions,
government action, the national oil company, Ecopetrol, is a

8

7
6

2

2012-2021

10%*

10

1.2

unauthorized gas flaring and wasting of gas. In February of thisyear, Colombia was one of the first countries worldwide to pass

31%

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

1.2

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

2012-2021

12

2021

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

reduction inflaring intensity

0.4

7th

Flare volume (bcm)

reductionin flaring

57%

1.5

2021 Flarevolume rank:

Photo credit: © Vanhurck / Shutterstock

67%

2.5

0.6

0.2

2012-2021

9
8

2.0

Flare intensity

10

3.0

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

2012-2021

37th

0.8

Flare volume

11

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

1.2
1.0

2021 Flarevolume rank:

Nigeria

Flare intensity

Flare volume (bcm)

Flare volume

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

Colombia

Nigeria flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021

122022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

132022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

Worrying Increases

12

7

5
4

6

3

4

2

53%
increasein flaring

2012-2021

126%

increase inflaring intensity

2

102012 2013 2014 2015 2016

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

increasein flaring

Mexico flare volume versus oil production, 2012 to 2021

to-oil ratios and, with no outlet for the gas, the additional gas

Flare volume (bcm)suggests oil production is occurring at wells with higher gas-

5.0

which cannot be accepted in the domestic gas network. As aresult, a large amount of this gas is flared both offshore and at
onshore gas processing plants. Mexico’s focus over the last few
years has been on energy security, however the increase in gas
flaring has occurred while Mexico has also steadily increased

2.0

4.0
1.5
3.0
1.0

2.0

12

12

10

10

8

8

6

6
4

4

2

2

0

0

2012 2013 2014 2015 20162017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Source: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, EIA, GGFROver the last decade, flaring has steadily increased in Iraq, with

0.5
0

2012

lift results in the production of gas with a high nitrogen content,

14

14

Flaring volume

2.50highest gas volumes are flared, the use of nitrogen for artificial

16

16

3.0

1.0

produced is flared. Additionally, in the Marine Region, where the3%increase inflaring intensity

18

18

Iraq flare volume versus oil production, 2012 to 2021

6.0

Despite oil production declining over the last 10 years, Mexico

2012-2021

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Flare intensity

20

Oil production

7.0

since 2018, rising from 3.8 bcm to 6.5 bcm in 2021. This increase

41%

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Flaring volume

has increased flaring by over 50 percent, with a sharp uptick

2012-2021

0

2nd

2020

2021

volumes rising from 13 bcm in 2012 to almost 18 bcm in 2021,
Flare volume (bcm)2012-2021

2021 Flarevolume rank:

Flare volume (bcm)8

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

8th

Flare volume

10

6
Flare volume (bcm)2021 Flarevolume rank:

Iraq

Flare intensity

accounting for around 12 percent of total global flaring. At thesame time, Iraq is importing natural gas; about 10 bcm in 2020.
Flare gas recovery and associated gas utilization are significant

Oil production

20

5.0

18

4.5

16

4.0

14

3.5

12

3.0

10

2.5

8

2.0

6

opportunities for Iraq, which is both a GGFR partner andendorser of the ZRF initiative and has gas utilization reduction

4

1.5

2

1.0

0

0

2012

cited in its NDC.

Oil production (mln bbl/d)

Flare volume

8

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

MexicoIraq flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021

Flaring intensity (m³/bbl)

Mexico flare volume versus flare intensity, 2012 to 2021

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

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

Mexico domestic gas production, import and total final consumption
1990 to 2020, indicating increase in gas export and decrease inproduction (data taken from IEA, values in petajoules (PJ) converted tobcm assuming an average natural gas heating value of 45 cubic meters per
megajoule, 2020 values provisional)

Iraq natural gas production, import and total consumption(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

80

Dry natural gas production

Natural gas imports

25

40
30
20
10
0

1990

Source: IEA

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

Natural gas volume (bcm)50

Photo credit: © GGFRNatural gas volume (bcm)

70
60

20

15

10

5

0

2005

2010

Source: IEA, bp Statistical Review of World Energy, July 2021

2015

2020

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, andpotentially displace dirtier energy sources. The 144 bcm
of natural gas flared in 2021 could have potentiallygenerated some 1,800 Terawatt hours (TWh) of energy,
almost two-thirds of the European Union’s net domestic
electricity generation.
Tackling gas flaring is also critical, given its role in global
methane emissions. Methane is a more potent greenhousegas 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)
and efforts to eliminate flaring also eliminate theassociated 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 besent to flare and while there may be an overall emissions
reduction, methane is still released, and this valuable
energy source is still wasted.

This highlights the importance of flare reduction andgas management to overall oil and gas decarbonization
strategies.
Estimated emissions from gas flaring in 2021 in million tonnesof CO2 equivalants

Methane

39

CO₂

361

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.

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

162022 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

commits endorsing governments and companies to end routine

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

flaring by 2030. 2022 marks an important mid-point on thisZRF endosers

journey, so we take an opportunity to reflect on progress to date.

Non-ZRF endosers

Although 34 governments have endorsed the ZRF initiative,
and committed to creating an enabling environment for flare
reduction investments, there has been mixed progress to date.

Non-endorsing
countries

Some endorsing governments have successfully achieved both

39%

Argentina
Endorsingcountries

a reduction in absolute flare volume and flaring intensity since

Poor performance to date:61%

2016, which indicates that flare reductions are not solely due tothese countries have increased
both flare volumes and flaring
intensity since 2016100%

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 inSource: NOAA, Payne Institute and Colorado School of Mines, GGFR

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

GlobalZRF endosers

Non-ZRF endosers

20%

15%

% Change Flare Intensity 2016-2021

absolute flare volumes and flaring intensity.

Mexico
Iran
50%

Syria

China
Ecuador
Iraq
Nigeria
Algeria
Gabon

RussiaSaudi Arabia
0%
10%

Egypt
India
Turkmenistan

Oman
Rep of the Congo

5%

Libya

Photo credit: © Opsorman / Shutterstock

Malaysia
Indonesia
0%

United States
CanadaBetter performance to date:these countries have decreased
both flare volumes and flaring
intensity since 2016

Angola-50%-5%

Kazakhstan
-50%

0%

-10%

2016

2017

2018

2019

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

2020

50%

% Change Flare 2016-2021

2021

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

100%

150%

18

2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

Imported Flare Gas Index
2021 IFG Index Results
14
13

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

12
11

Russian Federation

Libya

United Kingdom

Nigeria

Iraq

Gabon

Algeria

United States

Egypt

Kazakhstan

Malaysia

TunisaMexicoCameroon

Others

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

Photo credit: © Red_Shadow / Shutterstock.

LatviaIceland

Luxembourg

Japan

Belgium

Ireland

New ZealandSwedenCroatia

Russian Federation

Denmark

CanadaCountries exposed to high flaring

Spain

8.00

Italy

new metric highlights the flaring consequences of certain crude

potentially to assist in implementing flaring reduction initiatives,

imports and shares the burden of responsibility for flaring

thereby significantly improving the carbon emissions intensity of

reduction between both countries that produce and the countries

the oil they consume.
Analysis of 2021 data suggests that many large crude oilimporting countries, such as Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands,are ‘exposed’ to high levels of gas flaring as they import crude

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

The IFG Index can help oil-importing countries assess where flaring
to a dialogue with the countries from which they import oil andproportion to the amount of crude oil imported.

United States

Greece9.00

hotspots are in their fossil fuel supply chain. This should leadimporting the flaring intensity of these producing countries inUnited Kingdom

10.00

crude oil imported by various countries around the world. Thiscountry is importing crude oil from producing countries, it is also

Portugal

IFG Index of Largest Crude Importing Countries (> 250 K bbl/day)Flare Gas (IFG) Index, to infer the flaring associated with thethat import the crude oil. It is based on the premise that if a

Czech Republic

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

7.00

In last year’s report, we introduced a new metric, the Imported

Germnay

Netherlands

PolandHungary

Bulgaria

Lithuania

FranceFinlandRomania

Austria

Belarus

Italy

NorwaySpain

Slovakia

GreeceAustralia

Switzerland

Estonia

0

India

FranceInternational Average
Flaring Intensity

Thailand

6.00

PolandNetherlands

China

Germany

5.00

Singapore
4.00

Canada3.00

South Korea

United Kingdom

United States

Sweden2.00

JapanBelgium

1.00

0.00
0

1000

2000

3000

from countries with a high flaring intensity, such as Russia, Libya,
Algeria, Iraq, and Mexico.

4000

Crude Import (Kbbl/day)

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

5000

6000

11000

19

20

2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report

Concluding Reflections
While global flare volumes have remained largely static over thelast decade, the very significant reductions achieved by somecountries are encouraging and set an example for others.
Given the growing international focus on methane emissions and• eliminating a direct source of methane released un-combusted
from flares; and• enabling the gas successfully conserved through reductions inventing and fugitive emissions to be utilized rather than flared.

acknowledging the important role the oil and gas industry could

On decarbonization: the utilization of flared gas presents anplay towards achieving climate goals, we call on governments

opportunity to put a valuable, wasted energy source to beneficial

and companies to increase their focus and accelerate theiruse. Natural gas can help reduce the carbon intensity of the global

commitment to ending this wasteful industry practice by 2030.

energy mix, with the ability to replace coal and liquid fuels quickly,

On technology: while technology and innovation have an
important role to play, it is important to note that most flaring

allowing time for the development and implementation of low andno carbon sources such as renewables and green hydrogen.

is not due to a lack of available technology; it is due to a lack of

On timing: Infrastructure projects needed to connect flares topolitical will and leadership in developing appropriate markets andmarkets can take years to be developed and operational. If Zeroinfrastructure to recover and utilize the gas.

Routine Flaring by 2030 is to be achieved, action must be swift

On regulation: effective regulation and strong enforcementand determined.

are paramount; our Global Flaring and Venting Regulations: A

Despite the 10-year plateau in flaring, we remain hopeful that

Comparative Review of Policies study explores the many, and varied,significant progress on flaring can be made over the next few

policy mechanisms that can be leveraged to both penalize gas

years, but this will require strong regulation and effective

flaring and incentivize gas utilization.

collaboration between the public and private sectors.

On methane: eliminating routine flaring can offer a double win in

Photo credit: © eleonimages / Shutterstock.

Photo credit: © Essam al-Sudani / Shutterstock.

the shared endeavor to reduce global methane emissions by:21

The World Bank’s rolein gas flaring reduction
The World Bank’s GGFR works closely withgovernments and oil companies to help assess
technologies, develop policies and regulations,and build capacity to end routine flaring
by 2030. We are also continuing to securecommitments for the Zero Routine Flaring by
2030 initiative, Zero Routine Flaring by 2030
initiative, building upon the 87 governmentand oil company endorsers that, together,account for close to 60 percent of global
flaring. Ending routine gas flaring is critical
if governments and companies are to deliver
their products in the cleanest manner possible,
meet net-zero targets, and maintain theirlicense to operate, especially in developing
countries where millions lack access to energy.

Methodology
The 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report is produced on an annual basisby the World Bank’s GGFR, comprised of governments, oil companies,
and international institutions working to end routine gas flaring at oil
production sites around the world. GGFR, in partnership with the US NOAA
and The Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines,
has developed global gas flaring estimates based upon observations fromsatellites launched in 2012 and 2017. The advanced sensors of this satellite
detect the heat emitted by gas flares as infrared emissions at global
upstream oil and gas facilities.
The Colorado School of Mines and GGFR quantify these infrared emissions
and calibrate them using country-level data collected by a third-party data
supplier, Cedigaz, to produce robust estimates of global gas flaring volumes.
The satellite data for estimating flare gas volumes is collected by NOAA’ssatellite-mounted Visual and Infrared Radiometer Suite of detectors (VIIRS).
VIIRS has a multispectral set of infrared detectors which:• at nighttime respond only to heat emissions and hence are not affected bysunlight, moonlight or other light sources• 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, nota waste product. Such approaches mustalso be tailored to the unique circumstancesand context of a particular country, or evena specific oil production site. We need towork collaboratively with governments andoil companies to develop holistic policies,
considering a range of incentives andpenalties, to finally put an end to this practice.

The ability of VIIRS to detect and discriminate hot sources, such asgas flares, enables flares to be detected automatically with minimal
manual intervention. Emissions from non-flare hot sources (e.g. biomassburning) can be removed from the data by selecting only emissions withtemperatures above 1100C; other hot sources burn at lower temperatures.
Indeed, flares burn hotter than any other terrestrial hot sources, including
volcanos. Since the first year of year of operation in 2012, VIIRS has
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