China is considering increasing natural-gas prices in high-demand areas such as the eastern provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu and the city of Beijing , the state-owned China Securities Journal reported Thursday.

Prices in Zhejiang will likely rise by between 0.2 yuan (3 U.S. cents) and CNY0.7 a cubic meter, while those in some areas in Jiangsu could rise by up to CNY0.7 a cubic meter, the report said, citing unidentified sources.

The report didn't provide details about the prices in Beijing city, saying only that they could go up this year.

The third quarter would be the most likely window for raising prices, the report said.

Raising prices in these areas will help pave the way for a broader reform of the system for pricing natural gas, given their strong demand and relative economic strength, the report said.

Other regions have been experimenting with reforms.

For example, the southern province of Guangdong and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have adopted a system that links gas prices to the price of fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gas.

China consumed 147.1 billion cubic meters of natural gas last year, up 13% from 2011, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

Imports of natural gas rose 31.1% to 42.5 billion cubic meters last year, accounting for 29% of total demand, while domestic output increased 6.5% to 107.7 billion cubic meters, the NDRC said last month.

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