China may bring forward a plan to change the formula used to set domestic natural gas prices, which may help expand imports and increase the local cost of the fuel, Xinhua reported.

The government is studying a pricing method that more reasonably reflects supply and demand, it said, citing Zhang Guobao, head of the National Energy Administration. The change is needed now that China has started building the eastern section of its second west-east pipeline to import gas from Turkmenistan, Xinhua said.

(Shanghai Daily February 11, 2009)