China Facing Power Shortages With Approach Of Winter

BEIJING — "China's booming economy is driving demand for coal, oil, power, and transport that far outstrips national supplies, potentially leaving millions nationwide in the cold, the China Daily said on Tuesday.

National authorities had warned that shortages of resources could trigger power cuts in at least nine provinces this winter, the newspaper said. "The coming of winter will once again increase power consumption. Together with reduced power generation in the summer, this sharpens the contradiction between supply and demand of power," Cao Yushu, spokesman of the State Development and Reform Commission, was quoted as saying.

Some 24 provinces suffered blackouts in the first nine months of this year, despite a 14.5 percent year-on-year increase in power generation during the period to 1.56 trillion kilowatts. Nationwide power supplies ran short by 30 million kilowatts over the summer, Cao said.

Coal is the major source of fuel in China, and the country's coal industry, already the world's biggest and most hazardous, has expanded with little regulation to keep up with demand. Deaths from coal mine accidents surpassed 4,000 in the first nine months of the year. In the worst mine disaster in the country in years, a blast ripped through a mine in central China last Wednesday, killing at least 91 people, with rescuers holding out little hope for 57 still missing, state media said.

But an unflagging national appetite for coal means many mines will continue to push production levels beyond safe limits."

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=253

These two countries competing for non-renewables, will be the next big thing...

competition with the U.S.

Shortages of heat and water make for a restive populace.

I believe that there are also water shortages in the north, particularly near Harbin, which have curtailed yields of wheat and corn. China usually does not like to be dependent on foreign supplies of food--all too frequently coming from us.

Lack of coal and water also mean lack of power for industry. I wonder if some U.S. companies that sent production to China are having second thoughts. While there have been reports that coal stocks are down at electrical plants in the U.S. due to the need for additional transport, and heating fuels are priced quite high, the overall energy and water situation in the U.S. appears to be much better than in China at this time.