China has shut down 32 power generators, involving total capacity of 4.82 million kilowatts, due to coal shortages, the China Electricity Council said.

The country's coal stockpiles at thermal-coal plants stood at 41.71 million tons as of May 18, it said.

Coal stockpiles in five areas including Hebei, Anhui and Hunan has dropped to below seven days' consumption level, the Council said.

Coal stockpiles at power plants in quake-hit Sichuan stood at 1.07 million tons as of Sunday, enough to meet requirement for nine days, it said.

Gu Junyuan, chief engineer of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, said yesterday that Sichuan's power facilities have now reached 85 percent of their normal generating levels but electricity is yet to be restored to Mianzhu, Maoxian and Wolong areas.