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NW China Province Lacks 1 Million Cubic Meters of Natural Gas a Dayfor Heating

Posted on: Sunday, 15 January 2006, 09:00 CST

NW China province lacks 1 million cubic meters of natural gas a day for heating

XI'AN, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Shaanxi Province is seeing a natural gas shortage of 1 million cubic meters a day in its gas supply for its citizens, local gas provider said Thursday.

The province needs 6.5 to 6.8 million cubic meters of natural gas a day for heating service, while the gas network can only provide 5.4 million cubic meters a day, according to the sources with the Shaanxi Provincial Natural Gas Co. Ltd.

The gas network has the capacity to offer 7.1 million cubic meters of natural gas a day, but a nationwide gas shortage has affected its capacity, the source said.

One degree lower in indoor temperature can save 150,000 cubic meters of natural gas in the province, the source said.

Residents in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi, have been told since last December to keep their indoor temperatures between 16 to 18 degrees Celsius during the heating-service period this winter, in a bid to save natural gas.

Meanwhile, governmental organs, businesses, commercial and office buildings, shopping malls, classrooms and other public places were also asked to keep their temperatures within 18 degrees, according to a bulletin issued by the municipal government of Xi'an.

Hotels and entertainment places can adjust their temperatures to 20 degrees, but no more, according to the bulletin.

All natural gas users are required to regulate heating and temperatures along with changes in weather conditions, the bulletin said.

In times of natural gas shortage, the government will offer gas supply only at designated periods and designated volume, and citizens are encouraged to use alternative energies such as solar energy, the bulletin said.

Since the bulletin was issued, Xi'an has been saving 100,000 cubic meters of natural gas a day, alleviating the pressure on the gas network "effectively," according to the gas company.

In Chinese cities, the heating service period generally runs from Nov. 15 to March 15 of the next year.

The central government has asked the nation to endeavor to build an energy-saving society.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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