Robust supply allays Chinese gas shortage fears

Domestic and imported gas volumes appear sufficient to cover increased demand led by colder-than-average winter

China looks set to sidestep natural gas shortages this winter, even amid expectations of below-average temperatures for the season that will underpin domestic demand for gas heating. Gas supply is expected to be abundant for China’s heating season thanks to robust domestic production, imports and fuller storage, industry participants at the BNEF Summit in Shanghai said on Tuesday. The heating season runs from November to March. This is when cities in northern China use district heating systems that, in recent years, have been increasingly fuelled by gas and electricity instead of coal. Demand is expected to remain firm through winter as Beijing continues to replace coal with gas The