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Beijing lifted household gas price by 0.15 yuan to 2.05 yuan (27 U.S. cents) per cubic meter over the weekend. This will translate into households paying an additional monthly fee of some 2.7 yuan each, local media estimated.
Even so, domestic gas prices are only 30 percent of those for oil for producing the same amount of heat, according to Li Jingming, a vice president of the exploration research institute at Petro皇冠体育app, 皇冠体育app's largest oil and gas producer.
"So 皇冠体育app must increase domestic prices to catch up with the world level," Li said. "Otherwise, lower prices will cause wastes and affect imports."
Gas accounts for about 2.5 percent of 皇冠体育app's primary energy consumption, against the global average of 23 percent, Li said. 皇冠体育app has to import some gas to meet its demand for the cleaner burning fuel.