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A power crunch driven by drought in China’s southwestern province of Sichuan, the country’s biggest hydropower producer, has started to ease as temperatures fall, state media reported on Sunday.
Power for ordinary industrial and commercial users has been restored while that for large industrial users will be gradually restored, except for highly energy-intensive industries, state media reported, citing the State Grid Corp.
Power demand is easing as the letup in temperatures, which had exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in many areas, has tempered a surge in air conditioner use, state media said.
Sichuan province generates 30% of hydroelectric power in the country and it usually has a massive power surplus to supply other Chinese regions. But a long-lasting drought across the Yangtze basin has crimped electricity supply, it is now receiving electricity from other provinces after weeks of minimal rainfall and extreme heat.