Bloomberg: Beijing Curtails Natural Gas Supply as PetroChina LNG Delayed

Beijing suspended gas supplies to some industrial users after liquefied natural gas imports by PetroChina Co. were disrupted.

Gas supplies have dwindled in northern China as LNG imports intended to satisfy peak winter demand were unable to unload because of heavy fog and wind, PetroChina’s parent, China National Petroleum Corp., said on its website. Heating in public buildings in the capital has been curtailed and authorities are working with PetroChina to restore deliveries as soon as possible, the Beijing Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment said Dec. 26 in its official microblog.

Northern China, including Beijing, has experienced the lowest temperatures in 64 years, leading to a big increase in natural gas consumption, according to CNPC. China cut prices for the fuel last month for business and industrial users in areas including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong as it seeks to boost use of the fuel in its energy mix and reduce pollution, according to the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s economic planner. MORE