Beijing limits natural gas supply due to temporary shortage

Beijing has limited the amount of natural gas for heating public buildings and halted the supply to industrial enterprises for production due to temporary scarcity, the media reported on Monday.

According to a statement from the Beijing Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment, a shipment of imported liquefied natural gas by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) was hindered by heavy fog, causing a shortage in north China since Saturday, the Global Times reported.

The ship failed to unload the gas after arriving at port, said the statement.

The affected areas include workplaces, department stores and entertainment venues. The measures are part of a contingency plan to ensure heating of residential buildings in the winter.

The statement said the temperature of public buildings will be strictly controlled.

Property developer SOHO China informed its Beijing clients that the temperature in its office buildings will be set no higher than 14 degrees Celsius, as required by the authorities.

The commission said it is negotiating with the CNPC to resume normal gas supply as soon as possible. The supply is expected to recover from Monday.