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| China power cuts set to increase on rising coal costs | China power cuts set to increase on rising coal costs |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| China has started rationing electricity to try and stave off an energy shortage that government officials say could be the worst since 2004. | China has started rationing electricity to try and stave off an energy shortage that government officials say could be the worst since 2004. |
| State-owned power generating companies are dealing with high global energy prices that have cut their profits. | State-owned power generating companies are dealing with high global energy prices that have cut their profits. |
| China has also banned the export of diesel, to try to meet domestic demand. | China has also banned the export of diesel, to try to meet domestic demand. |
| Power cuts occur every summer, but this year rising coal costs and a drop in hydropower output mean they could be much more severe. | Power cuts occur every summer, but this year rising coal costs and a drop in hydropower output mean they could be much more severe. |
| The China Electricity Council (CEC) said on Tuesday that China's five biggest power producers reported a losses of 10.57bn yuan ($1.62bn; £995m) in their thermal power plants in the first four months of the year, according to the Xinhua news agency. | The China Electricity Council (CEC) said on Tuesday that China's five biggest power producers reported a losses of 10.57bn yuan ($1.62bn; £995m) in their thermal power plants in the first four months of the year, according to the Xinhua news agency. |
| The figure was about 7.29bn yuan more than in the same period last year, said the CEC in a statement, which blamed soaring coal prices. | The figure was about 7.29bn yuan more than in the same period last year, said the CEC in a statement, which blamed soaring coal prices. |
| The CEC is warning that this poses "great risks" to ensuring power supplies during the peak season this summer, said Xinhua. | The CEC is warning that this poses "great risks" to ensuring power supplies during the peak season this summer, said Xinhua. |
| The five main power producers supply about half of the country's power, according to the CEC. | |
| Analysts say China has not raised electricity tariffs significantly because of rising inflation worries. | Analysts say China has not raised electricity tariffs significantly because of rising inflation worries. |
| China's price-setting agency, was reported to have increased electricity tariffs in some parts of the country in April. | China's price-setting agency, was reported to have increased electricity tariffs in some parts of the country in April. |
| However, observers say the rise was too small to restore profitability for many coal-fired power generators. | However, observers say the rise was too small to restore profitability for many coal-fired power generators. |
| Instead, manufacturers in some provinces say they are already being ordered by local authorities to limit electricity usage, according to the Wall Street Journal. | Instead, manufacturers in some provinces say they are already being ordered by local authorities to limit electricity usage, according to the Wall Street Journal. |
| Some provinces have reportedly started rationing electricity earlier this year including Hunan, Zhejiang and Anhui as well as Shanghai and Chongqing. | Some provinces have reportedly started rationing electricity earlier this year including Hunan, Zhejiang and Anhui as well as Shanghai and Chongqing. |