Energy firms at capacity to ensure 'warm' winter

China Petroleum and Chemical Corp (Sinopec), the country's biggest geothermal developer, is pumping 130 million cubic meters of natural gas a day, in an effort to meet demand during the peak winter season.

All of the company's gas fields and three liquefied natural gas terminals, including the Qingdao, Beihai and Tianjin LNG terminals, have been opened up to full capacity since Nov 15, when China switched on its residential heating system across the north of the country.

To help, Sinopec said it would also step up spot purchases to meet rising demand in the world's fastest-growing gas consumer market.