China will likely face its worst-ever gas shortages this winter as the government moves to cut pollution by ordering more expensive gas-fired heating to be used instead of coal. The powerful National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) warned on Oct. 12 that the shortfall will be worse than usual "because of hyper-normal growth in natural gas consumption," particularly if it gets very cold. Several sources at state PetroChina tell WGI that the shortfall could reach 10 billion cubic meters over the winter heating season — which runs from Nov. 15-Mar.l5 — or just over 3.5 billion cubic feet per day. The situation is likely to be worst in northern China, an area that includes Beijing and other big cities such as Tianjin, which is now heavily reliant on coal.
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