Power shortages will be substantially eased this winter and next year, according to a senior official with the China Electricity Council (CEC) on Thursday.

"Although power shortages still exist, especially in North China and the south, the intensity and scope will be greatly reduced nationwide," said Wang Yonggan, secretary-general of CEC, at a press conference in Beijing.

Wang said newly-built large power stations had boosted power supply this year.

In the first nine months of the year, China saw a newly installed power capacity of 40 million kilowatts, 40 percent of which goes to East China and 26 percent to North China.

According to CEC, during the first three quarters of the year, the nation generated 1,774 billion kilowatt hours of power, a year-on-year increase of 13.4 percent.

Among them, hydropower accounts for 15.42 percent, thermal power 81.77 percent and nuclear power 2.29 percent.

Wang said abundant water supply this summer boosted hydropower generation.

Wang estimated China's total power consumption in 2005 would be 2,456 billion kilowatts, an increase of 13 percent over last year.

North China will suffer from the most severe power shortages in the coming winter, especially in the Beijing-Tianjin area, Shanxi Province, the western part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the southern part of Hebei Province.

Wang said special measures are being taken in power plants to improve the efficiency of power production and transport. Wang also urged the whole of society to pay more attention to energy saving.

By the end of September, China's installed power capacity had reached 480 million kilowatts. In 2020, China will boast an installed power capacity of 700 million kilowatts.

Wang said China is expected to see a balance of electricity supply and demand in 2007, possibly with a slight surplus.

(China Daily October 29, 2005)