Underground storage proposed to end winter gas crunch

China should step up the construction of underground gas storage facilities to meet increasing demand during the peak consumption period in winter, according to Zhang Mingsen, former deputy chief engineer of the Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry under the State-owned oil giant China Petroleum and Chemical Corp.

The government should provide fiscal and tax subsidies for the construction of underground gas storage facilities and improve the pricing mechanism for natural gas to achieve a more open gas market system, said Zhang in his suggestions to the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

China consumed 280.30 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2018, up 18.1 percent year-on-year, according to the National Development and Reform Commission, the nation's top economic regulator. The increase is in line with the country's aim to encourage the use of gas instead of coal to combat air pollution.