(Yicai Global) Dec. 27 -- State-owned energy group China National Offshore Oil Corp. will hike natural gas shipments to North China this winter by 33 percent to make up for a supply shortfall.

CNOOC will move 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas north this winter to next spring, China News reported yesterday. The country's largest supplier of imported liquefied natural gas has diverted more than 5 million tons of the fuel.

Industry boosted gas demand this year, while the frigid top part of the country is also shifting to natural gas from coal for heating to improve winter air quality, opening up a gap between supply and demand.

CNOOC is also cooperating closely with energy giant China National Petroleum Corp. in South China to transport natural gas and imported LNG through interconnected pipelines and tanker ships to supply North China.

Natural gas consumption is projected at more than 230 billion cubic meters for the year, according to the National Development and Reform Commission, resulting in a shortfall of over 11.3 billion cubic meters.