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China will step up coal supply for power generation, as high temperatures and economic recovery from Covid-induced slump have pushed electricity demand higher, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the top economic planner said on Tuesday.
“Climbing power demand and lack of hydropower capacity due to seasonal factors have put coal supplies under great pressure,” Jin Xiandong, an official from the NDRC.
According to Jin, from August 1 to 14, the average daily coal consumption at coal-fired power plants stood at 8.16 million tons in the country, an increase of 15% over the same period last year, with 8.49 million tonnes of coal consumed on August 3 alone, marking a new record high.
Southwest China’s Sichuan Province notified a large number of industrial enterprises in the province to suspend production for six days to guarantee household power supply, as high temperatures stretched the local power grid.
The NDRC has guided related companies to speed up release of high-quality coal capacity, focusing on implementation of medium- and long-term contracts signed by coal suppliers as well as strengthening the security of coal transport, in a bid to ensure sufficient coal supply amid continued heat waves,” Jin noted.