World needs $38 trillion energy investment
The world must invest $38 trillion in oil, gas and electricity infrastructure over the next 25 years to stop prices from soaring, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said today. And about half of that will need to be spent in the power sector
Referring to data from the IEA’s upcoming World Energy Outlook 2011, to be published in November, the agency said $16.9 trillion is needed for electricity generation; $10 trillion in oil; $9.5 trillion in natural gas; $1.1 trillion in coal; and $300 billion on biofuels. “This means, more or less, that $1.5 trillion is needed every year [over the next 25 years],” chief economist Fatih Birol told reporters at the IEA ministerial meeting. He highlighted that oil investment was vital in Middle East and North African (Mena) countries, because 90% of the required growth in crude production over the next few years would come from that region. “If the investment doesn’t come through in those countri
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
