Weak growth in demand for natural gas amid cheaper alternative fuels spurs cries on the mainland for price reduction and deregulation Beijing's tight grip on natural gas prices amid sharp falls in alternative fuel costs has made natural gas so uncompetitive that demand growth has fallen to its weakest in two decades, holding back the cleaner-burning fuel in helping the nation achieve its air pollution reduction goals. Unexpectedly tepid demand as a result of the "mispricing" of natural gas has also dashed producers and gas distributors' hope of reaching their production and sales targets set earlier this year, analysts say.