Northwest china's Shaanxi Province is suffering a natural gas shortage of 1 million cubic meters a day in supply to its citizens, gas providers said.

The province needs 6.5 to 6.8 million cubic meters of natural gas a day for heating service, while the gas network can only provide 5.4 million cubic meters a day, according to the Shaanxi Provincial Natural Gas Co Ltd.

The gas network has the capacity providing 7.1 million cubic meters a day, but a nationwide gas shortage has affected capacity.

One degree lower in indoor temperature can save 150,000 cubic meters of natural gas in the province, the source said.

Residents in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi, have been told since last December to keep their indoor temperatures between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius during the heating-service period this winter, to save natural gas.

The municipal government also asked government bodies, commercial and office buildings, classrooms and other public places to keep their temperatures within 18 degrees.

Hotels and entertainment places can adjust their temperatures up to 20 degrees, but no more, a city bulletin said.

All natural gas users are required to regulate heating and temperatures in accordance with weather.

In times of gas shortage, the government will offer gas supply only at designated periods and designated volume.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2006)