China’s effort to promote natural gas over coal to cut pollution is facing resistance from buyers who prefer cheaper to cleaner. The world’s largest energy consumer seeks to raise the share of less-polluting natural gas to 10 percent of its energy mix by 2020 from 6 percent last year. Yet even with the government cutting the cost of gas, it remains almost three times more expensive than coal when used to generate electricity. That’s putting a damper on the switch from a fuel that now accounts for more than 60 percent of demand. “I do not believe the government’s target of 10 percent will be met,” said Peter Lee, an analyst with BMI Research in Singapore. “While gas use will still grow, it will prove challenging to achieve such a significant jump.” The goal of increasing reliance on natural gas comes amid broader efforts to reduce the country’s coal […]