Natural gas shortage hits southern China

As temperatures plummet across the country, the demand for natural gas is rising. In southern cities like Chongqing, Wuhan and Hangzhou, supplies are reaching their limits.

It's been difficult to find a taxi in Chongqing.

To find one, you can look to the long queues outside gas stations.

Despite Chongqing being one of the country's largest producers of natural gas, the city's supply is under intense strain.

The local government has decided to levy a 80 percent surcharge on CNG, or compressed natural gas. The policy will start Saturday. Taxis will be allowed to charge their passengers an additional two yuan for each trip.

The country's central and eastern provinces are also facing the worst natural gas shortage in years.

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, has already cut off natural gas to its industries.

Further east in Zhenjiang Province, the Hangzhou Gas Group says the city is facing a supply shortage of 480-thousand cubic meters.

Sun Qiqiang, Deputy Secretary of CPC Hangzhou Gas Group Committee, said, "We have been affected by the cold weather and heavy snow. Our country has limited the natural gas supply to cities located south of the Yangtze River."

Hangzhou's natural gas comes from the western part of the country.

Before it reaches Hangzhou, it has to travel more than 4-thousand kilometers.

The country's top gas supplier, PetroChina, said that the sudden drop in temperatures has slowed the flow of gas in pipelines. This means lengthy refueling times at gas stations are likely to continue.