Government offices have been urged to take the lead and cut
their electricity consumption as the worst power shortage in
history grips China's southernmost island province, Hainan.
The provincial government released an emergency notice on
Tuesday, explaining production has almost ceased at the two main
hydroelectric power stations on the island due to the serious
drought that has afflicted the island since the start of the
year.
The local gas and coal power plants can not produce enough power
for the entire province on their own, leaving Hainan short 390,000
kilowatts of electricity, and?one million citizens feeling the
brunt of the power shortage.
Deputy Secretary-General of the Hainan Provincial Government,
Wang Yixin, issued a public apology for the power shortage on
Tuesday. He said Hainan has been forced to introduce temporary
electricity-saving measures, like an air conditioner ban in all
party and government offices. The government has also introduced
measures to conserve electricity during peak consumption
periods.
Wang Yixin promised the government will work diligently to
resolve the problem. In the meantime, it will introduce all
possible measures to ensure local residents receive an adequate
supply of power and minimize the impact on local businesses.
Hainan Province has been through its most rapid period of
development in recent years and electricity consumption has
increased by an average of 20 percent per annum.
The island plans to construct more power plants in the future to
ease the pressure on its power supply, including solar, wind, coal,
and hydroelectricity plants. Construction will also begin soon on a
submarine cable power network.
(CRI March 22, 2007)