BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- China is mobilizing forces nationwide to meet
power demands during the summer peak season, as reconstruction work goes on in
the quake zone and Olympics approaches.
Since the May 12 earthquake that devastated the southwest Sichuan and some
neighboring provinces, the country had vowed to ensure power supply in quake
regions to back the rescue and reconstruction work.
The State Grid said it would not only cut power transmissions from Sichuan
to power-thirsty coastal provinces, but also organize provinces in central and
eastern China to transmit more electricity to the quake-hit province.
Lu Jian, a State Grid official, said the company had adjusted an overhaul
plan of power-generating units in Henan. This was expected to increase the
province's power transmission capacity to Sichuan by 300,000 kw to 500,000 kw.
The company expected to finish the rush repair on quake-damaged power
facilities in Sichuan before June 10.
On Thursday, loads of the power grids in Sichuan had been restored to the
pre-quake level and had reached 13.21 million kw., which was 15 percent more
than the daily maximum load of last year.
The country was also hit by inadequate coal reserves for power supply.
Power coal reserves are below the alarming seven-day level in Hebei, Anhui,
Hunan and Hainan provinces.
More than 62 power plants across the country, with an output capacity of
61.86 million kw, have less than three days of coal reserves.
In the region neighboring Beijing, where the Olympic Games is to be held in
August, power coal reserves stood at less than 1 million tons, only enough for
six days of use.
The State Council, China's Cabinet, had ordered coal-producing provinces to
run at full capacity on the premise of safety to increase coal output. Small
coal mines that had closed were asked to put things right as soon as possible
and resume production once being qualified.
The country had about 44.44 million tons of power coal in reserve as of
Monday at power plants with an annual output above 100,000 kw, which is adequate
for about 11 days of use, according to statistics provided by the State
Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC).
The country's power giants, including China Huadian Corporation, China
Guodian Corporation and China Power Investment Corporation, had been asked to
ensure a reliable supply "regardless of cost."
Guangdong was the only province to suffer brownouts that equaled to 195,000
kw on Tuesday; other provinces were able to meet power demands.
The State Grid and SERC officials also stressed consumers should be thrifty
in power use, and modify their use according to the country's output so as to
achieve the supply-demand balance this summer.