China Desperate for More Power:Central China Experiences Major Power Shortage after Bad Weather
BEIJING --February 8, 2008--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--A serious power shortage swept through Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei Province, in mid-January after the region experienced heavy snow, resulting in a sharp increase to the grid's power load. On January 15, 2008, the maximum load in Wuhan's power grid reached 4,600 megawatts (MW), and daily power consumption reached 86.12 million kilowatt-hours (kWh). Both the maximum load and power consumption were record highs this winter.
Power was cut off for energy-intensive industries, such as iron, steel, cement and paper-making, and the city made plans to cut off residential power in two-hour intervals, according to an emergency conference called by the municipal government on January 21, 2008.
A power shortage in central China's power grid has become more serious since the beginning of 2008 because of a shortage in coal supply. Forced power outages occurred in nearly the entire central grid except in Henan Province, which is rich in coal resources.
Based on recent statistics, 6,370 MW of installed capacity was shut down because of the coal shortage, and the coal stockpile in 25 thermal power plants has fallen below normal levels. The power load has been steadily increasing since the second half of December 2007 because of fast economic growth in the region's six provinces. By January 20, 2008, the central grid's coal stockpile was at half the normal level.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading marketing information services company for the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy-related markets throughout the world. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, IIR provides accurate and timely intelligence featuring plant and project information databases, focused market databases, industry forecasting, key industry contacts, industry and territorial map products, direct marketing services and applications, and daily industry news.