More power available to deal with ongoing heat wave

China will ramp up power generation while allocating more energy to areas gripped by scorching temperatures and drought in recent months, said the National Energy Administration.

China will step up support for coal-fired power plants in the country to ensure stable energy supply, as a searing summer heat wave drives power demand to record levels. The government will also give full play to the role of large power grids in allocating resources and transmit more power to buttress energy supply in Sichuan province and Chongqing to the maximum extent, the administration was quoted by China Energy News as saying.

Meanwhile, the administration will also optimize power unit maintenance to avoid possible breakdowns or malfunctions. It will also continue analyzing power supply and demand monitoring, and lift power generation fuel supplies to address the extended heat wave, it said.

An analyst said China's attempt to boost coal use will help it cope with drought-fueled power shortages and ensure sufficient power supply.

Wang Guoqing, research director at the Beijing Lange Steel Information Research Center, said the administration's efforts will further alleviate power shortages in affected regions.

Coal-fired power will still play a crucial role in the stability and consistency of a new power system dominated by new energy in the country, Wang said.

The administration said the government has approved new advanced coal capacity of 37.7 million tons annually so far this year. Coal output during the first seven months rose 10 percent compared with the same period of the previous year. The country currently has adequate stocks of thermal coal, a record 170 million tons that can last 23 days, it said.

On the other hand, the country also put into operation 180 million kilowatts of new energy since last year's summer peak, which has further lifted the country's power supply capacity, it said.

The country's coal output rose to 2.562 billion tons during the first seven months of this year, up 11.5 percent year-on-year, the administration said, adding that China imported 23.52 million tons of coal in July, up 23.9 percent compared with the previous month.

Crude and gas output also continued rising during the first seven months. Crude output rose 3.7 percent year-on-year to 120 million tons while that for natural gas was up 5.4 percent at 126.7 billion cubic meters, it said.

The administration estimates energy consumption will continue to rise during the second half and demand for power will further increase. The government will come up with energy guarantee plans in advance while boosting supply capacity to ensure sufficient power supply, it said.