China's Blue Skies Target May Make for Winter Gas Crunch

  • Natural gas demand jumped 15% in 1H amid policies to boost use
  • Government pushing cleaner-burning fuel to replace coal, oil

A coal-fired power plant in Liuzhi County, Guizhou province, southern China.

Photographer: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
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Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government has beaten expectations in its drive to help clear the nation’s notoriously smoggy skies by burning less coal and oil in favor of cleaner natural gas.

Now that success may be too much, too soon.