Industrial demand key factor in natural gas shortage

Surging demand in industrial sectors has been the main force behind the natural gas shortage in China, and an unexpected decrease in planned supply has worsened the situation, according to a top academic.

In addition, almost 3.2 million households and some central heating generators in 28 cities and regions surrounding Beijing have switched from coal to gas this year, said Yao Qiang, former dean of Tsinghua University's Department of Thermal Engineering.

In December, daily natural gas consumption increased by 130 million cubic meters year-on-year to 800 million, and the energy shift to gas contributed only 30 percent of the newly added demand, he said.