{"id":50622,"date":"2025-07-08T10:43:47","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T14:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/clips-of-unrelated-pipelines-falsely-depicted-as-part-of-ethiopian-gas-export-project\/08\/07\/2025\/"},"modified":"2025-07-08T10:43:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T14:43:47","slug":"clips-of-unrelated-pipelines-falsely-depicted-as-part-of-ethiopian-gas-export-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/clips-of-unrelated-pipelines-falsely-depicted-as-part-of-ethiopian-gas-export-project\/08\/07\/2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Clips of unrelated pipelines falsely depicted as part of Ethiopian gas export project"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\"><strong>The Ethiopian government recently shelved plans to pipe natural gas from the Ogaden Basin to Djibouti because of financial constraints and project delays. But posts circulating on Facebook claim to show the ongoing construction of Ethiopia\u2019s export pipeline. However, this is false: the video shows a compilation of unrelated clips, including footage from India and Australia. Construction on the planned Ogaden-Djibouti pipeline never started.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">An Amharic\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mvau.lt\/media\/4ba10f0f-e5e1-49e1-8bd3-11f81b446a75\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:post;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">post<\/a> published on Facebook and shared more than 480 times reads: \u201cAmazing Ethiopian pipeline that transports gas to the port.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><span>Screenshot of the false post, taken on July 4, 2025 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The post, published on June 27, 2025, includes a 30-second video that shows the construction of various pipelines and refineries while a male voice narrates in the background.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cEthiopia is building a large gas pipeline that will transport gas from the Ogaden Basin for export,\u201d the narrator says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ogaden Basin is found in Ethiopia\u2019s Somali region and holds significant reserves of crude oil and natural gas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe gas pipeline is 767 kilometres long and connects the gas directly to the Red Sea for transport,\u201d the video&#8217;s narrator adds.\u00a0\u201cThe construction of the pipeline, which was interrupted several times in the past, has now been resumed at full capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He further claims that the pipeline is being constructed by a Chinese company and will transport more than 12 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Similar posts were also shared <a href=\"https:\/\/mvau.lt\/media\/6c7d16c9-64ea-4c41-b958-5f788dcd77c9\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/mvau.lt\/media\/1e3e8623-ded1-4454-8cdd-da05ae8ef888\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here <\/a>on Facebook.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\"><strong>Ethiopian gas\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ethiopia has been actively exploring oil and natural gas in partnership with Chinese companies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Early attempts were marred by tragedy when, in 2007, more than 65 Ethiopians and Chinese workers were\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.africadaily.net\/reports\/Ethiopia_re-integrates_1700_separatist_rebels_999.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:killed;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">killed <\/a>by Ethiopian rebels from the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) at an oil field in the Ogaden Basin (archived <a href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/83Q8-QB97\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In 2018, following the election of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia trialled the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aa.com.tr\/en\/africa\/ethiopia-begins-first-ever-crude-oil-production\/1190035\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:production of crude oil;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">production of crude oil<\/a> for the first time from two reserves in the Ogaden Basin \u2014 the Kalub and Hilala fields in the eastern part of the country (archived <a href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/A7BJ-RABJ\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The exploration and production of both natural gas and crude oil in the Ogaden Basin have been carried out in partnership with the Chinese company Poly-GCL Petroleum Investment Limited.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In 2019, Ethiopia and Djibouti signed a multi-billion dollar\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/addisfortune.news\/ethiopia-djibouti-ink-deal-to-install-gas-pipeline\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:agreement;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">agreement <\/a>to lay down a 760-kilometre-long natural gas pipeline from Kalub and Hilala to Djibouti Port (archived <a href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/44HK-HJ8V\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">However, the video does not show this proposed project.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\"><strong>Nonexistent pipelines\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Keyword searches reveal that the pipeline\u2019s construction never got off the ground.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">AFP Fact Check found a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ebc.et\/english\/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=11563\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:speech;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">speech <\/a>Abiy gave to parliament in early June 2025 when he said the country would begin gas production for domestic use in September (archived <a href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/RX8C-TY33\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">His announcement followed the May 2025 release of a 41-page <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ea-energianalyse.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Ethiopian-Energy-Outlook-2025.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:report;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">report<\/a> titled \u201cEthiopian Energy Outlook 2025\u201d in which the Ministry of Water and Energy confirmed that the government has cancelled the planned natural gas extraction in the Ogaden region and a pipeline project to Djibouti for export as liquefied natural gas (archived <a href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/J9CL-9LVE\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to the report, the cancellation was a result of financial constraints and delays in project implementation as well as a shift toward domestic consumption.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On June 28, 2025, local media <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thereporterethiopia.com\/45830\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:reported;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">reported <\/a>that the decision to terminate the natural gas pipeline project was already taken in 2022 and only recently made public (archived <a href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/38SF-V9N6\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\"><strong>Unrelated videos\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">AFP Fact Check also used the video verification tool\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.invid-project.eu\/tools-and-services\/invid-verification-plugin\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:InVID-WeVerify;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">InVID-WeVerify<\/a> to conduct <a href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.afp.com\/doc.afp.com.36RH9NV\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:reverse image searches;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">reverse image searches<\/a> on keyframes from the video.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The search results included a link to an Instagram video showing the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DJinEhJzzvD\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Arab Crude Oil Pipeline Project;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Arab Crude Oil Pipeline Project<\/a> in India, involving a 489-kilometre pipeline connecting Mundra in Gujarat to the Barmer refinery in Rajasthan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FsQSp2Kqvh8\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:posted;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">posted <\/a>by Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd, the company responsible for constructing the pipeline (archived <a href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/QJ65-6M9E\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Further searches revealed part of the footage was also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=T3BkjOS46YU\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:published;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">published <\/a>by the same company on YouTube in October 2023 (archived <a href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/B6YB-SBZQ\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">AFP Fact Check matched screengrabs from the original Instagram video to frames from the clip in the false post.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"&lt;span&gt;Screenshots of the orginal video (left) and the false post, taken on July 7, 2025 &lt;\/span&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"467\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/WOMCLq9gEwWv5_DQEIBHAQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQ2NztjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/afp_factcheck_us_713\/3da31a7de70e6962f2ec5ff44b2d24db\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><span>Screenshots of the orginal video (left) and the false post, taken on July 7, 2025 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The search results further revealed that other parts of the false video were taken from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=J8aIpQuAKh4\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:footage;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">footage<\/a> of the \u201cFortescue River Gas Pipeline Construction Project\u201d published on YouTube in February 2015 (archived <a href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/Q7C5-HNGGhttps:\/\/perma.cc\/Q7C5-HNGG\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The project saw the <a href=\"https:\/\/transalta.com\/about-us\/our-operations\/facilities\/fortescue-river-gas-pipeline-2\/#:~:text=The%20Project%20involved%20the%20construction,Western%20Australia'%20s%20Pilbara%20region.https:\/\/transalta.com\/about-us\/our-operations\/facilities\/fortescue-river-gas-pipeline-2\/#:~:text=The%20Project%20involved%20the%20construction,Western%20Australia'%20s%20Pilbara%20region.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:construction;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">construction <\/a>of a 270 kilometre pipeline connecting the Dampier Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline to TransAlta\u2019s Solomon Power Station in Western Australia (archived <a href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/89VG-XDQJ\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:here;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"&lt;span&gt;Screenshots of the original video from February 2015 (left) and the false post, taken on July 07, 2025&lt;\/span&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"424\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/u0QzopLAwkfRu9k73SARMA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQyNDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/afp_factcheck_us_713\/743f9666861d587c2f279cce3764ab43\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><span>Screenshots of the original video from February 2015 (left) and the false post, taken on July 07, 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">None of the images featured in the video support the claim that they show the construction of an Ethiopian gas pipeline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/clips-unrelated-pipelines-falsely-depicted-132206957.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ethiopian government recently shelved plans to pipe natural gas from the Ogaden Basin to Djibouti because of financial constraints and project<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/clips-of-unrelated-pipelines-falsely-depicted-as-part-of-ethiopian-gas-export-project\/08\/07\/2025\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":50623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/afp_factcheck_us_713\/eb44757b170200fa0ed5a5c977a4e7b7","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50622"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50622\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}