According to Xinhua News Agency, Securities Times and Yanzhao Evening News, since the beginning of November, some parts of our country have experienced widespread snowy and cold weather. The demand for natural gas has sharply increased. Due to factors such as limited capacity of natural gas pipelines, large difference between peak and valley, and insufficient storage scale, supply-demand contradictions in some areas are relatively prominent. Wuhan, Chongqing, Xi'an, Nanjing, Hangzhou and other places have successively faced supply shortages. Under the "gas shortage", enterprises' production and people's lives have immediately been affected. In half a month, domestic wholesale prices of natural gas have soared by an average of 500-700 yuan per ton, with an average increase exceeding 20%.
Yesterday, it was learned from the National Development and Reform Commission that, according to the central deployment, the NDRC actively organized and coordinated China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Sinopec Group, CNOOC, and local economic operation management departments. A series of measures were taken to strengthen operational regulation, reinforce demand-side management, and stabilize natural gas market supply.
Firstly, under the premise of safe production, natural gas production enterprises maintain high-load production, dig potential through all means, scientifically allocate stored gas resources, actively organize imports, and strive to increase natural gas resource supply. From November 1 to 20, CNPC's daily average gas supply reached 182 million cubic meters, up 22% year-on-year.
Secondly, balance resources comprehensively, connect production and sales well, and adjust transportation. Scientific scheduling is carried out to optimize pipeline network operations. Focus on weak links to strengthen safety management to ensure stable operation of natural gas production, sales, transportation, and storage facilities.
Thirdly, strengthen monitoring and coordination, and promptly grasp the supply situation. In particular, give high attention to key areas along the line of West-to-East Gas Transmission, strengthen organization and coordination, improve emergency plans, promptly identify problems and hidden dangers, take active measures to coordinate and solve them, and successively increase natural gas supply to resource-tight areas.
Fourthly, further strengthen demand-side management, strictly implement natural gas utilization policies, and formulate supply guarantee sequences. Always place ensuring residents' living gas use as the top priority. On this premise, arrange gas use for key areas such as public facilities well. At the same time, strengthen publicity and correctly guide consumption to promote economical use.
Analysis of the direct cause of this "gas shortage": Supply parties such as CNPC expressed that due to the impact of snowy weather, the huge increase in gas usage in North China has made it difficult for the entire pipeline network to operate smoothly. The state urgently allocated part of the "West-to-East Gas Transmission" pipeline gas, implemented reduced supply measures for cities south of the Yangtze River, causing tight natural gas supply in some southern cities along the pipeline. "Snowy weather is the trigger for this 'gas shortage'," said Lin Boqiang, Director of the China Energy Economics Research Center at Xiamen University.
Supply-demand contradiction is the "cause"
Affected by the improvement in industrial conditions, since the second half of this year, industrial gas usage in Zhejiang Province has significantly increased, and residential applications have become increasingly popular. Meanwhile, with the deepening of our country's energy-saving and emission reduction measures, more and more enterprises have upgraded their equipment according to requirements to use clean energy such as natural gas. Coupled with the continuous rise in oil prices this year, natural gas with a relatively lower price has naturally become favored by enterprises. On one hand, there is insufficient supply, and on the other hand, demand continues to grow, exacerbating the spread of the "gas shortage".
Are monopoly enterprises forcing up gas prices?
There is a view in public opinion that natural gas monopoly enterprises are trying to push up gas prices through "cutting off gas". Relevant persons in charge of CNPC recently expressed that the group has mobilized gas storage to meet demand, increasing the daily gas supply by 20 million cubic meters, and the pipeline network has already reached full load operating status.
Han Xiaoping, Director of the China Energy Network, pointed out: "Natural gas production should be based on relevant gas supply agreements. Since the agreement has been signed, why doesn't production keep up? And why does there appear a supply shortage during the winter gas usage peak? This is worth reflecting on."