Zhejiang braced for power shortages
By Shao Xiaoyi (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-06-02 06:05

HANGZHOU: To ease expected power shortages this summer, Zhejiang Province plans to control the use of energy in order to maintain supplies.

Nine different contingency measures have been planned, and will be introduced depending on the extent of the shortages, which could range from 1 million kilowatts to 9 million kilowatts, according to a statement released by the province's Economic and Trade Commission and its Electric Power Bureau.

The province is facing the most severe power shortages in its history, with an estimated maximum shortage of around 8 million kilowatts in the coming months, said the statement.

Small-scale steel mills will be asked to stop operations when there are severe shortages. Meanwhile, energy-consuming industries such as cement production and electroplating will temporarily be stopped from operating or be forced to reduce production by half from July to August, according to the statement.

Other enterprises, which require continuous production, such as the chemical industry, papermaking, and printing will be required to temporarily halt their operations for 10-15 days for machine checks.

At the same time, a number of local construction sites involved in non-essential industrial or infrastructure projects are supposed to stop working whenever the temperature reaches a specific level.

air conditioners

Moreover, local government departments, official buildings, hotels, large retail facilities and entertainment venues will not be allowed to use air conditioners unless the temperature exceeds 30 C. They will only be allowed to operate half of their air-conditioners during peak hours, from 8 am to 11 am and 6 pm to 10 pm.

Local street lamps, and lights for advertising and scenic spots will be turned off to maintain ordinary people's supplies, except during holidays.

"We will continue to experience electricity shortages this year and we will try our best to make sure most citizens have a supply of electricity," said Jin Deshui, vice-governor of Zhejiang Province.

According to local weather forecasters, Zhejiang will experience a hot summer this year.

Frequent use of air-conditioners will make power shortages more severe, said Jin.

He said a lack of coal in the country was also a problem as the province's power supply is mainly based on coal.

It has become impossible to buy power from other provinces in the summer. Everywhere will have shortages this year, said Jin.

Zhejiang Province has a shortfall of 5.87 billion kilowatts of electricity last year.

Power shortages have become a major issue in many parts of China since 2003. Nineteen out of 31 province-level regions on the Chinese mainland suffered from power shortages in 2003. That number rose to 24 last year.

(China Daily 06/02/2005 page3)

Close

Today's Top News     Top China News
Government reveals plan to combat AIDS         Taipei urged to talk on mainland gifts         22 die in Hunan mountain torrents         Badawi raps US-Japan view of China as threat         Dutch voters reject EU constitution         China: UN Council resolution dangerous	Death toll rises to 17 in central China's mountain torrents       More male teachers needed for kids in China       China 'to slow mineral imports'       IOC inspectors nestle in on 'bird's nest'       Mainland to select giant pandas for Taiwan       Children's Day offers young migrants hope