Chinese methanol plants in Inner Mongolia, totalling 1.55m tonne/year, are running at half of their capacity due to a shortage of feedstock natural gas since middle of November. The plants affected include the Boyuan methanol plant of 1m tonne/year, Sulige methanol plant of 350,000 tonne/year and the Tianye plant of 200,000 tonne/year. The operating rates would be increased when the gas supply resumes at the end of winter. The Chinese government usually curbs the use of natural gas for industrial purposes, such as methanol production, and channels it to homes for heating at the onset of winter.