Currently, power supplies in China are falling short of local demands by as much as 69.63 million kWh nationwide. 13 province-level power grids have taken measures to restrict supplies, according to the National Videophone Conference on Power Safe Production held on January 22. The State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has urged various power producers to ensure adequate production during the upcoming Spring Festival in early February, and the parliamentary sessions in the first half of March.

According to SERC Chairman You Quan, power demands are soaring as winter deepens. Supplies cannot keep up with demands due to limited coal production as well as difficulties with coal transportation due to bad weather. Currently only 20.32 million tons of coal have been stored for electricity generation. The country is 33 tons short of what is needed on a daily basis; some electricity generators have ceased operations due to fuel shortages, You said.

In 2007, China experienced healthy growth in its power industry. Generally speaking, last year the country achieved parity between electricity demands and supplies. Plants generated as much as 3255.9 billion kWh, an increase of 14.44 percent from the year before. Citizens consumed 3245.8 billion kWh, an increase of 14.42 percent. Electricity production maintained steady growth in spite of great pressures from rocketing demands and frequent disasters. In 2007, with the installed capacity increasing by 100 million kW to 713 million kW, no serious accidents or casualties befell the power industry and all dams connected to hydropower stations maintained safe operations.

(China.org.cn by Pang Li, January 23, 2008)