04.06.2004 10:47:00 GMT Heavy industry drives China's power consumption in first four months
Shanghai. (Interfax-China) - In the first four months of the year, China consumed 650.483 bln kWh of electricity, increasing by 16.1% year-on-year. In the period, heavy industry consumed 379.436 bln kWh, representing a growth of 19.12% on a yearly basis, and accounting for 58.33% of the national total.
From January through April, China's primary, secondary and tertiary industries consumed 16.817 bln kWh, 48.739 bln kWh and 773.024 bln kW of power respectively, up by 2.92%, 18.25% and 12.98% compared to the same period of the previous year.
At the same time, residential power consumption throughout China reached 73.252 bln kWh, up 9.15% year-on-year, according to the China Electricity Council (CEC), a non-governmental power industry organization.
As Interfax previously reported, China produced 647.314 bln kWh between January and April, growing 15.8% year-on-year, still less than the growth in demand. As a result, in the first quarter, blackouts have been seen in 24 provinces across the country.
In response to the shortages, Shi Yubo, the Vice Chairman of CEC, said recently that the organization's "Wide-Range Blackout Emergency Response Plan" had been submitted to the State Council.
Meanwhile, as the shortages kick in as the Summer peak approaches, China's State Electricity Regulatory Commission has this week issued a notice calling upon all power enterprises to maintain safe production and guarantee the electricity supply of urban residential users and important industrial customers.
The notice comes at the time when experts are warning that the shortages over the 2004 peak season will be even more serious than last year.
It requests all electricity supply and power grid companies to work in tandem with local authorities to improve demand side management, and to encourage enterprises to consume during off-peak hours. Only in the last resort should they restrict or cut off power in order to guarantee the safety of the grid. The electricity companies are also encouraged to increase trading across provinces and regions.
The notice also emphasizes the need for greater cooperation with coal mines and railways, enabling the power companies to ensure adequate power coal supplies. It also urges those enterprises involved in hydropower production to do their utmost to prevent floods and ensure that hydropower facilities can remain in operation during the heavy rain season.
Meanwhile, according to the Beijing-based daily newspaper, Xin Jing Bao (The Beijing News), the government of Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, which was among the biggest victims of the power shortages in 2003, has ordered staff at all government offices and state-owned enterprises to restrict the use of electricity. They will only be permitted to use air-conditioners when outside temperatures exceed 32 degrees celsius, and lights must be turned off during daylight hours, the newspaper reports.
