Reality check for China's natural gas push to cut air pollution

CHINA'S push to use more natural gas over winter in a bid to cut air pollution is running into the harsh realities of rising prices and limited supplies of the cleaner fuel.

In a signal of what may become more government intervention in the natural gas market, China's state planner ordered eight regions to meet natural gas producers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal operators and traders.

The meetings are effectively a warning by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to the various players in the natural gas sector to ensure that prices don't rise too much even as rising demand causes supply shortages.