The National Development and Reform Commission responds to the situation of the heating season this winter and next spring-
Natural gas prices do not have the basis for a sustained and substantial increase
Our reporter Gu Yang
□ At present, the supply of natural gas resources in my country is relatively sufficient, which can better meet the demand for guaranteeing supply in winter. It is expected that natural gas consumption demand will maintain a certain growth.
□ In response to the situation of natural gas supply guarantees this winter and next spring, my country continues to promote the construction of the production, supply, storage and marketing system and various supply guarantees. The supply guarantee capacity is continuously improved, and residents and other people's livelihoods can be fully guaranteed.
As the northern region enters the heating season one after another, the winter supply of coal and natural gas has also entered a critical period.
In response to the recent rapid rise in the prices of coal and natural gas, the principal of the Economic Operation and Regulation Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission stated in an interview with the Economic Daily reporter that before the peak demand season, coal and natural gas prices rose rapidly due to objective reasons and some Some artificial speculation factors, but overall, coal and natural gas prices this winter do not have the basis for a sustained and substantial increase.
According to reports, my country's current supply of natural gas resources is relatively sufficient, which can better meet the demand for guaranteed supply in winter, and it is expected that natural gas consumption demand will maintain a certain growth.
"In response to the situation of natural gas supply guarantee this winter and next spring, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration have established close communication mechanisms with various regions, relevant departments and enterprises to continue to promote the construction of the production, supply, storage and marketing system and various guarantees of supply. The gas consumption for residents and other people’s livelihoods can be fully guaranteed.” The person in charge pointed out that during the peak period of gas consumption, there may still be tight supply in certain areas and individual periods. At the same time, it is necessary to pay close attention to the continuous large-scale extreme cold weather. Determine the influence of factors.
According to statistics, in the first nine months of this year, domestic natural gas production was 137.1 billion cubic meters, an increase of 8.7% year-on-year. It is estimated that domestic natural gas production for the whole year will exceed 190 billion cubic meters, with an increase of more than 10 billion cubic meters for four consecutive years.
While vigorously promoting stable production and increasing production, my country continues to maintain the overall stability of natural gas imports.
In the first nine months, my country imported 96.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas, basically the same year-on-year.
With the completion and commissioning of the middle section of the Sino-Russian Eastern Route, the source of imported pipeline gas resources has been increased.
At the same time, the international market has sufficient supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet domestic demand.
At present, my country has built a gas storage capacity of nearly 25 billion cubic meters, of which underground gas storage has more than 14 billion cubic meters.
In the heating season this year, the maximum usable daily gas storage exceeded 130 million cubic meters.
At the same time, the construction of natural gas pipeline network interconnection has also achieved positive results.
According to estimates, this year, through interconnection, 40 million cubic meters per day of gas transmission capacity can be added to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. If necessary, the transfer of resources such as "gas from the south to the north" can be organized immediately to ensure the gas needs of key areas.
In terms of coal, the national coal consumption during the heating season is expected to be basically flat year-on-year.
At present, coal storage in power plants across the country can be used for 32 days, which is at a high level in the same period in history, which can better guarantee the demand for power generation.
Affected by the decline in coal production in some areas, the Northeast region needs to increase its efforts to ensure supply.
In recent years, every time the heating season in the north comes, the prices of coal and natural gas will rise.
Judging from the recent quotations in the spot market, coal and natural gas prices have risen somewhat.
"The domestic production of coal and natural gas is stable, and imports have room for further growth. The resource supply is generally sufficient. On the whole, coal and gas prices do not have the basis for a substantial increase." The person in charge said.
The data shows that the current total coal storage in power plants nationwide is about 160 million tons, which is a high level in the same period in history.
Major natural gas supply companies hold nearly 18 billion cubic meters of gas storage resources. Together with the existing gas storage capacity of local governments and urban gas companies, the country's available gas storage has further increased compared with last year's heating season.
In the supply, storage and marketing system, whether the contract can be fully and strictly signed is directly related to the stable operation of coal and natural gas prices.
To this end, the National Development and Reform Commission has organized the three major oil and gas companies to complete annual and heating season contracts with localities, and the number of contracts signed has increased by more than 5% year-on-year.
At the same time, vigorously promote the signing of medium and long-term coal agreements to reduce the possible adverse effects of price fluctuations.
"During the heating season, we will strengthen the contract performance credit supervision, urge enterprises to strictly follow the contract to ensure the order and stability of gas supply and use, and strictly implement the price policy." The person in charge said that during the heating season, the price of residential gas will be guaranteed, and the price at the gate No increase; for schools, hospitals, public transportation and other people's livelihood gas to maintain a stable price, the increase rate shall not exceed 20% on the basis of the benchmark gate station price; other market gas volume prices are determined by the supply and demand parties through negotiation.
“It needs to be emphasized that fluctuations in LNG market prices will not affect residential gas consumption, and residential gas use strictly implements local government pricing.” The person in charge emphasized that on the basis of continuous monitoring and analysis of coal and natural gas prices, they will cooperate with relevant parties. The department strengthened the supervision of natural gas prices, and found, investigated and exposed all illegal activities such as price hikes and collusion to drive up prices, and resolutely maintained a fair and competitive market order.