PetroChina is reviewing its multi-billion-dollar push to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) in place of diesel, shutting two loss making gas liquefaction plants operated by subsidiary Kunlun Energy. LNG is cleaner and nearly a third cheaper than diesel. Kunlun, a relative latecomer, emerged as a leader of the business, having spent billions of dollars on a dozen LNG plants, mainly in the country’s west and north, and building over 600 gas refueling stations. It also operates two multi-billion-dollar LNG import terminals on China’s east coast. But since the second half of 2013, Kunlun has seen utilization rates at some of its plants fall below 50%, amid a broad economic slowdown and as Beijing rolled out a gas price reform that pushed up prices of feed gas. An anti-corruption probe of top PetroChina executives, including Kunlun’s former Chairman Li Hualin, added to uncertainty about the company’s business strategy.