BEIJING — The southwestern Chinese province of
Sichuan
downgraded emergency energy supply measures on Monday, restoring power to some
factories after weeks of rolling blackouts due to a heat wave-induced shortage.
اضافة اعلان
Parts of Sichuan province and neighboring
Chongqing saw
rainfall and lower temperatures beginning Sunday, after weeks of record
temperatures higher than 40°C and a crippling drought that strained hydropower
generators throughout the region.
"Reservoir water levels are gradually increasing and
the power supply capacity has improved," the Sichuan government announced
Monday, adding that the power supply crisis had been "alleviated to a
certain extent".
The provincial emergency energy supply response was
downgraded from the highest level starting Monday, the notice said, allowing
power to be gradually restored to factories.
The region is home to major auto manufacturers, including
Toyota in Sichuan, and Honda in Chongqing, which said they resumed operations
Monday.
Apple iPhone manufacturer Foxconn also restarted work at its Sichuan
plant, Nikkei reported.
State broadcaster CCTV reported Sunday that the
"general industrial and commercial power consumption in Sichuan province
has been fully restored," adding that energy-intensive industries would
resume production once hydropower reservoir levels rose further.
The lower temperatures have also lessened electricity demand
from households, whose use of air conditioners had increased during the heat
wave.
Authorities have forecast intense rains in the region for
the next ten days, with the China Meteorological Association on Sunday issuing
an orange alert for mountain torrents in Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces.
Southern China has recorded its longest continuous period of
high temperatures since records began more than 60 years ago, forcing power
cuts that have hit the agricultural sector particularly hard.
Power shortages also forced malls in parts of Sichuan and
Chongqing to shorten their opening hours, while landscape and subway lighting
was switched off and some households experienced rolling blackouts.
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