• Global biomethane output hit 9.6 bcm in 2024, seven times higher than in 2014

• CO₂ capture capacity projected to grow from 79 Mtpa in 2025 to 577 Mtpa by 2030

• Africa has no major projects, risks being sidelined in low-carbon gas transition

The Global Gas Report 2025, released on September 10 by the International Gas Union in partnership with Rystad Energy, highlights rapid global growth in biomethane and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS)—two key pillars of gas decarbonization.

Biomethane production reached 9.6 billion cubic meters in 2024, seven times more than in 2014. The report projects annual growth of 14% through 2040. At the same time, global CO₂ capture capacity is expected to rise from 79 million tons per year (Mtpa) in 2025 to 577 Mtpa by 2030.

The report noted that CCUS is gaining traction, with major projects reaching final investment decisions and starting in 2025. Global CO₂ capture capacity is set to hit 79 Mtpa in 2025 and could rise more than sevenfold to 577 Mtpa by 2030. It also identifies biomethane as the most promising low-carbon gas today, thanks to mature production technologies and its immediate compatibility with existing natural gas infrastructure.

Africa, however, remains largely absent from this global momentum. The report notes no major industrial-scale biomethane or CCUS projects on the continent. Existing initiatives are limited to small announcements, while financing remains concentrated on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and upstream oil and gas, with no policy incentives to support large-scale development.

As international standards increasingly align around biomethane and CCUS, Africa risks being left behind, confined to supplying conventional gas while missing out on opportunities in low-carbon segments.

Recent studies echo this warning. The International Energy Agency’s Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane and the African Development Bank’s Africa Carbon Support Facility, both released this year, stressed the urgent need for African governments to adopt clear regulations and attract financing to launch pilot projects.