World embraces dirtier fuels as gas hits exorbitant heights

With high natural gas prices showing no signs of abating and supplies becoming harder to obtain, cheaper and dirtier alternatives to the fuel are looking increasingly tempting for energy-hungry buyers.

Liquefied natural gas prices in Asia are now at about $50 (¥6,665) per million British thermal units. On an energy-equivalent basis, gas was at about double the price of diesel as of early August, with high-sulfur fuel oil and coal cheaper still, according to data from S&P Global Commodity Insights.