More Natural Gas to Warm Winter China

China's largest natural gas supplier pledged to increase its output to meet the surging domestic demand amid the current gas crunch caused by the colder winter.

The company has asked its major oil and gas fields to operate at full capacity and started purchasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet the surging needs, a spokesperson with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) said Sunday.

In addition, CNPC will boost the gas import from central Asia to address the shortage, according to the company.

The demand for natural gas has increased substantively, driven by the continuous rain and snow that slashed north China this winter.

In response, the authorities have urged major gas producers to give priority to residential purposes, public facilities and transportation.