Guiyang power plants resume operations

Source: CCTV.com | 02-01-2008 08:45

Power plants in the southwestern city of Guiyang have resumed operations after emergency repair work. Homes and businesses in Guiyang are no longer in darkness but in other cities which are still being affected by snow and rain, power shortages remain a major problem.

Traffic lights are working again. Banks are open. Shops are welcoming customers back.

Life is returning to normal after nearly a week of power failures.

A Guiyang shop owner said, "I am so excited that the power is back on. It's amazing that the workers finished the repairs in such a short time. I'd like to thank them very much."

A Guiyang resident said, "Now I don't have to live in darkness any more. I can cook and use the air conditioning for heating again. I am very happy about it."

For 11 other cities in Guizhou Province, it's another story. Power failures there are continuing. China Southern Power Grid has provided nearly 200 oil generators to alleviate power shortages for seriously-damaged electricity networks in the province.

Many other southern provinces are also suffering from power shortages. Continuous snowfalls and low temperatures have slowed down the transport of coal, which is the main fuel for most power plants.

Power plants nationwide only have about 21 million tons of coal reserves -- one of the lowest amounts ever. So far, more than 42 million kilowatts of generating capacity has been suspended due to the lack of coal.

The central government has urged the country's main coal suppliers and railway departments to work together to provide more coal to power plants.

Editor:Zhang Ning