China heading for major gas deficit as supply lags

摘要

CHINA is likely to see a much larger deficit of natural gas supply this year, triggered by an increased number of utilities having signed up to use it for fuel and forcing the country to import more pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas from the international market. National Energy Administration director Zhang Jianhua said in Beijing last week that gas demand this year is to shoot up to 300 billion cubic metres, even though the domestic production will increase by a marginal mark to 170 Bcm, leaving the country to seek about 130 Bcm of gas supply from the international market. He said that demand increase has far outstretched supply growth.