Drought causes serious electricity shortages in China

China is facing the most severe power shortage since 2004 due to prolonged droughts and rising fuel prices.

Chinese factories are facing policies to limit electricity use, in the context of rising coal prices and prolonged droughts affecting the operation of hydropower plants, creating risks. A serious shortage of electricity when summer is approaching.

The situation is becoming more difficult for China, the world's largest energy consumer, as global fuel prices are on the rise, as well as its ever-increasing inflation rate.

Drought is spreading in many places in China ( Artwork ).

The China Daily newspaper recently said many businesses in coastal areas and some mainland provinces are struggling with power cuts and complete blackouts since March 2011, due to demand. electricity increases, while power output in hydropower plants decreases.

This is the worst power shortage in China since 2004 and this situation will likely get worse this summer when demand for electricity is at its maximum. At that time, the coastal province of Jiangsu, the main export area of ​​China, close to Shanghai, would be the most heavily affected. It is expected that the electricity supply will meet 16% less than the actual demand of this province.

The drought also made it difficult for the central region of China over the past few months, causing more than 1 million people without drinking water and electricity output at China's hydropower plants, the second largest energy source, suffering from significant decline.

According to the new figures released by the Chinese government, since the end of last week, the water level of nearly 1,400 reservoirs in Hubei province has fallen below the level of operability. Even the water level at the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project, has also fallen below the level needed to generate electricity.

Meanwhile, one day every three days, factories in Zhejiang Province are forced to stop production to conserve energy, similar measures were taken in the center of Hunan Province and some areas. another area.

Drought in the central provinces of China will likely create more pressure to increase inflation in this country, as the production of grain and fish in this region is likely to decline significantly.

The consumer price index of China in April 2011, the main measure of inflation in this country, has increased by 5.3% compared to the same period in 2010, down slightly from the corresponding level of 5.4%. in March 2011, but still exceeded the 4% target set by the government for 2011.