China Huaneng Group, the nation's largest electricity producer, said sales rose 37.7 percent to 68.8 billion yuan (US$10 billion) in the first half of the year as it generated more to meet rising demand.

Electricity generation was up 21.2 percent to 182.3 billion kilowatt hours during the period, while coal production rose 22.8 percent to 9.55 million tons, Huaneng said in a statement. It had combined generating capacity of 75.8 million kilowatts at the end of June.

Huaneng Group's listed unit, Huaneng Power International Inc, said last week it would post a loss in first-half results.

(Shanghai Daily July 23, 2008)