It's estimated that Beijing will need 23 million cubic meters of natural gas per day next month, four million more than the maximal supply of the gas company.

A gas usage peak is due to come in December as the weather gets colder, and more than 80 percent of the city's gas supply will be used for heating.

To ease the energy shortage, the Municipal Gas Corporation has started an emergency project to build more gas pipes in the city.

The project will be finished before the usage peak. It has reached an agreement with some oil fields and gas supply companies to get more gas for the winter period.

(CRI November 25, 2004)