新浪首页 > 新浪教育 > Electricity needs met in 2 years

Electricity needs met in 2 years
http://www.sina.com.cn 2004/08/31 12:06  Shanghai Daily

  China's chronic electricity shortages could be solved within the next two years, according to energy officials.

  Power shortages, which disrupted production at many factories this year, were smaller than expected this summer, as consumers used power more carefully and steps to dampen demand took effect, an official said.

  Since June, the country has faced a shortfall of 20,000 megawatts, against a forecast of 30,000 megawatts, said Hao Weiping, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission's Energy Bureau.

  Supply should balance demand by 2006, and may show a surplus the year after, Hao said.

  This year's summer power crisis, which caused blackouts across many parts of the country, is easing as falling temperatures reduce air conditioning use and government efforts to slow economic growth take effect.

  China is adding 40,000 megawatts of capacity this year and has approved plans for 160,000 more, in an effort to end the annual power failures, Hao said.

  China will spend at least 1 trillion yuan (US$120.8 billion) to boost power generation and a further 750 billion yuan on transmission networks over the next five years, the China Business Times reported on its Website, citing Wang Yonggan, general secretary of the China Electricity Council.

  The plans include the construction of 13 large coal-production bases with combined capacity of 2.3 billion to 2.5 billion tons, according to the official.

  "Power stations are running at capacity and industrial production has been slowing. That's why the shortfall is less severe than expected," said Geoffrey Cheng, an analyst with Daiwa Institute of Research in Hong Kong.

  "Whether power shortages ease before 2006 largely depends on coal supplies and costs," Cheng said.

  China relies on coal for 67 percent of its power needs, Shi Lishan, head of the New Energy Department of the Energy Bureau, yesterday told delegates at a power conference organized by the National Development and Reform Commission in Beijing.

  Adding extra capacity is driving up demand for coal at Huaneng Power International Inc, Datang International Power Generating Co and other producers.

  Datang last week said it may buy a third more coal next year - taking its total to 24 million metric tons - as it expands generating capacity also by a third to 10,410 megawatts.

  Coal transport bottlenecks have been the biggest complaint of power producers this year, Hao said. The planning commission has called on transport officials to make delivery of thermal coal a top priority, he said.

  Demand for thermal coal is forecast to reach 1.25 billion tons by 2010, according to the general secretary of the China Electricity Council, an industry body.

  China mined 1.7 billion tons of coal last year, enough to fill the Empire State Building in New York City 1,700 times over. Output may rise to 2.5 billion tons once 13 coal projects are completed, Wang said.

  The nation's rail network is running at full capacity and is still failing to keep up with demand.

  The government may sell shares in some railway operations as early as next year to raise funds for expansion, the Ministry of Railways said last week.

  Between 2006 and 2010, the government is planning to build a coal transport network, linking northern Inner Mongolia with Shanxi and eastern Shandong provinces and with a carrying capacity of 1.8 billion metric tons a year, Wang said.

  Coal shortages that pushed up spot prices, leading some suppliers to renege on contracts agreed at lower rates, were another cause of complaint for generators, Hao said.

  The National Development and Reform Commission imposed a limit of 8 percent on any increase in prices from end of May levels.

  China raised the prices at which grid operators buy power from generators twice this year. Still, that's lagged rising coal prices.

  While there may be further increases this year, "the rate won't be very big," Hao said.




   更多精彩内容尽在:新浪网英语频道

   在线英语交流:[ E文杂谈 ] [ 午夜英文剧场 ] [ 翻译热线 ]

评论



英语学习论坛】【 】【打印】【关闭
Annotation


新闻查询帮助

热 点 专 题
2004雅典奥运盘点
演员傅彪患病住院
新丝路模特大赛
第61届威尼斯电影节
北京将更换出租车车型
庆祝第20个教师节
二手车估价与交易平台
游戏天堂2新增服务器
周而复:往事回首录



教育频道意见反馈留言板 电话:010-62630930-5178 欢迎批评指正

新浪简介 | About Sina | 广告服务 | 联系我们 | 招聘信息 | 网站律师 | SINA English | 会员注册 | 产品答疑

Copyright © 1996 - 2004 SINA Inc. All Rights Reserved

版权所有 新浪网
北京市通信公司提供网络带宽