The State Grid of China said that power could be partially restored
on Saturday in the worst-hit region in the central province of
Hunan, ending an eight-day blackout caused by heavy snow.
"Many power facilities in Hunan were damaged due to repeated
extreme weather changes," said Yin Jijun, who is charge of the
public relations of the State Grid. "As the weather has
deteriorated again, the regional power grid, in particular the
southern grid in the province, is facing acute challenges."
A new round of snow started to hit central, southern and eastern
China on Friday, adding to the woes caused by previous
snowfalls.
Hunan has been one of the hardest-hit areas over the past three
weeks. Power and water in Chenzhou, a city of 4 million, have been
cut off during the past eight days, leaving thousands of households
dark and cold. The cities of Hengyang and Yongzhou also experienced
scattered blackouts.
Yin said that State Grid was going all-out to ensure the
soundness of the main power network in southern Hunan, especially
in Chenzhou. "We will strive to partially restore electricity
supplies in Chenzhou on Saturday," Yin said.
Chenzhou has become an "island" of darkness and cold as heavy
snow cut power and water supplies and disrupted transportation.
"My fondest wish right now is to have a hot shower," said
33-year-old Chenzhou resident Huang Junwen. "But this has become
impossible."
Cooking oil and vegetables were also running out, with prices
surging. Bigger supermarkets in the city were closed. Residents
were relying on fire engines for rationed drinking water and small
balls of coal used for cooking were scarce.
"I can't even withdraw money from an ATM because of the power
cut-off," said Jiang Songbai, a migrant laborer who works in
Chenzhou.
A few power generators were being transported to Chenzhou via
rail to restore the electricity at major public facilities and
industries. More utility staff was being mobilized to relieve those
who have been working for the past 20 days. About 600 workers from
as far afield as the northern province of Shanxi were deployed to
repair the main transmission line that links Hunan's capital of
Changsha with the city of Chenzhou.
About 5,000 workers have been repairing power lines in Chenzhou.
Two employees of Chendian International Development, the major
power supplier in Chenzhou, died on the job and two others have
been seriously injured.
The repair work can be dangerous even under the best of
conditions. The workers must climb up power pylons to remove the
ice from the transmission lines with hammers. Some soldiers have
even resorted to shooting the power lines with submachine guns to
shatter the ice.
Iron has been shipped in from neighboring Hubei province to
replace damaged power pylons.
"This is the worst time now, but we are approaching the end of
the bitter weather," Yin said. "We will try to restore power
supplies in railways, public facilities and Chenzhou City proper.
And our confidence in restoring power supply in most of Hunan is
unabated."
Chenzhou meteorological bureau reports said that the weather
would not improve in the next five days.
Premier Wen Jiabao flew to Hunan on Friday for the
second time in a week, shortly after chairing a disaster relief
meeting in Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2008)
