Thermal coal stockpiles at some 349 Chinese power plants have fallen to dangerously low levels and the Ministry of Railway has pledged to increase rail shipments to power plants to ensure adequate electricity supply during winter, the official Xinhua news agency reported late Wednesday, citing a statement from the ministry.
"Although (thermal) coal shipments to power plants have increased since early this month, reserves in the key 349 power plants have dropped from 38 million mt in mid-November to less than 35 million mt now," the ministry said.
"Reserves in some plants have dropped to the danger mark or even below it," the ministry said, adding local authorities should keep a close watch on coal stockpiles and consumption.
The ministry plans to put 2,614 more trains into use bringing the total daily load to 43,100 trains for the rest of this month. The daily load will increase to 45,000 trains on average in December.
About 70% of China's electricity generations comes from coal-fired power plants. Ensuring coal supply to power plants can become problematic during the summer and winter peak electricity demand periods due to limited railway transportation capacity.
The situation this winter has been exacerbated due to surging coal prices as well as government measures to conserve energy and reduce emissions, Xinhua said.
"Although (thermal) coal shipments to power plants have increased since early this month, reserves in the key 349 power plants have dropped from 38 million mt in mid-November to less than 35 million mt now," the ministry said.
"Reserves in some plants have dropped to the danger mark or even below it," the ministry said, adding local authorities should keep a close watch on coal stockpiles and consumption.
The ministry plans to put 2,614 more trains into use bringing the total daily load to 43,100 trains for the rest of this month. The daily load will increase to 45,000 trains on average in December.
About 70% of China's electricity generations comes from coal-fired power plants. Ensuring coal supply to power plants can become problematic during the summer and winter peak electricity demand periods due to limited railway transportation capacity.
The situation this winter has been exacerbated due to surging coal prices as well as government measures to conserve energy and reduce emissions, Xinhua said.
