Energy Initiative To Cut Smog Worsens Winter Gas Shortage

Surging demand for cleaner fuel affects household heating and pushes up market prices

Every day, before starting his shift, taxi driver Zhong Guishun heads to a gas station to fill his tank. Usually, the process only takes a few minutes, but last week it took more than two hours.

Like most cabs in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province, Zhong's car runs on liquefied natural gas, which was in short supply.