CHINA has begun rolling blackouts in its two largest cities, Beijing and Shanghai, as the country wrestles with power shortages that have hit key factories, reports Nikkei.
The Beijing office of State Grid Corp of China said it will begin scheduled power outages in certain areas through Sunday. Electricity will mostly be cut for a few daytime hours at a time.
The rolling blackouts will affect at least four districts in the capital. They include Xicheng and Dongcheng, which house government agencies and residences of top officials; Chaoyang, where many foreigners live; and Haidan, where several tech companies are located.
The exact number of homes and business affected has not been disclosed. Some media outlets have reported that the blackouts cut through about 60 grid sections, which would translate to more than 10,000 people being without power. Beijing has a population of 22 million people.
The total stockpile of thermal coal held by China's six major power-generation groups stands has fallen to 11.31 million tonnes, just enough meet demand for 15 days, reports Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
The inventory of coal-fired power plants in most parts of the country should, in principle, be no less than 20 days' worth of coal consumption during the off-season, including now, according to China's top economic planner, Sinolink Securities.
It also estimates that, from September to February, China will need 1.85 billion tonnes of thermal coal, but projections indicate it will fall short by 222 million to 344 million tonnes, about 12 to 19 per cent less than is needed.
The analysis comes as the world's second-largest economy is suffering its worst power blackouts in a decade. State media also reported that at least 20 out of 31 provincial jurisdictions - from industrial powerhouses in the south such as Guangdong to the rust belt in the northeast - have rolled out electricity-rationing measures in recent weeks.
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The Beijing office of State Grid Corp of China said it will begin scheduled power outages in certain areas through Sunday. Electricity will mostly be cut for a few daytime hours at a time.
The rolling blackouts will affect at least four districts in the capital. They include Xicheng and Dongcheng, which house government agencies and residences of top officials; Chaoyang, where many foreigners live; and Haidan, where several tech companies are located.
The exact number of homes and business affected has not been disclosed. Some media outlets have reported that the blackouts cut through about 60 grid sections, which would translate to more than 10,000 people being without power. Beijing has a population of 22 million people.
The total stockpile of thermal coal held by China's six major power-generation groups stands has fallen to 11.31 million tonnes, just enough meet demand for 15 days, reports Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
The inventory of coal-fired power plants in most parts of the country should, in principle, be no less than 20 days' worth of coal consumption during the off-season, including now, according to China's top economic planner, Sinolink Securities.
It also estimates that, from September to February, China will need 1.85 billion tonnes of thermal coal, but projections indicate it will fall short by 222 million to 344 million tonnes, about 12 to 19 per cent less than is needed.
The analysis comes as the world's second-largest economy is suffering its worst power blackouts in a decade. State media also reported that at least 20 out of 31 provincial jurisdictions - from industrial powerhouses in the south such as Guangdong to the rust belt in the northeast - have rolled out electricity-rationing measures in recent weeks.
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