Gas prices for a 15-kg cylinder can now be raised as high as 102 yuan (US$12.75) in Shenzhen, according to the provincial pricing watchdog, which nodded the price adjustment of a local gas supplier recently.

Guangdong pricing bureau limited the maximum markup on imported gas to 7 percent January 6. Suppliers are requested to apply for any increase in the cost of imported gas.

Pressured by hiking import prices, Shenzhen Sino-Benny LPG Co Ltd filed a price adjustment with the provincial pricing bureau to raise the cost to 6,500 yuan per ton of imported liquefied petroleum after January 6.

The company was given a green light Monday, the city's Chinese newspapers reported yesterday. The adjustment will lead to a six-yuan increase on the former price limit of 96 yuan per 15-kg cylinder as defined January 6.

The new price includes a net home delivery service fee, which has been set between four and six yuan by the Shenzhen pricing bureau. Consumers may lodge a complaint at the bureau's hotline 12358 for any delivery charge above six yuan.

To protect low-income families from falling prey to gas price increases, the Shenzhen government will consider doubling the current gas subsidies from 20 yuan to 40 yuan to families living on social welfare, spokesman Chen Jinhui with Shenzhen civil affairs bureau told the Shenzhen Daily yesterday.

The provincial government decided to intervene with the LPG cylinder industry January 6 out of concern that the price surge may affect people's livelihood.

(Shenzhen Daily January 19, 2006)