Hangzhou faces shortage of natural gas supply

As temperatures plummet in China, the demand for natural gas is surging. In Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang Province, natural gas supply has been limited.

Hangzhou Gas Group says the city is facing a gas supply shortage of 480-thousand cubic meters.

Sun Qiqiang, Deputy Secretary of CPC Hangzhou Gas Group Committee said "Affected by the cold weather and heavy snow, our country has limited natural gas supply to cities located south of the Yangtze River. But the weather is also very cold in some southern cities, so natural gas demand is surging."

Hangzhou's natural gas is sourced from western China. The pipeline runs through more than 10 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. By the time natural gas reaches Hangzhou, it has traveled more than 4-thousand kilometers.

Hangzhou's city government recently urged strict control for using natural gas. Government departments have suspended air conditioners that consume natural gas. The city has also suggested residents follow suit.

Hangzhou's power generation is also under strain from the natural gas shortage. Some power generators have stopped running.

Gao Deming, Banshan Power Plant Official of Hangzhou Huadian Group said "The volume of electricity generated by natural gas has decreased by 60 percent. Now, it is only 4 million kilowatts each day."

Local government has unveiled its preliminary emergency plan to tackle the gas supply shortage. It is talking with major gas suppliers including PetroChina and Sinopec to boost supply by 100-thousand cubic meters each day.