Guizhou Province last night declared a top-level emergency as
most areas in the province are without electricity after the power
network was severely damaged during the worst snowstorm in five
decades.
A total of 3,895 electricity lines had been damaged by yesterday
while 472 power plants across the province have been paralyzed
since the blizzards rampaged central, eastern and southern China
starting on January 13, the provincial government told a news
conference at 9pm yesterday, Xinhua news agency reported today.
Unusually cold temperatures, snow and sleet blanketing much of
these regions have kept thousands of trucks and trains – loaded
with coal, food and passengers – from getting to their destinations
in the most severe winter weather in 50 years.
Blocked roads and railways have also choked coal shipments,
magnifying energy shortages that have caused power blackouts in 17
of the country's 31 provinces.
Power supply capacity in Guizhou plunged nearly 50 percent to
3.06 million kilowatts by Monday from 7.2 million kilowatts on
January 17 after some key power plants suspended operation because
of the storm and lack of coal deliveries, the report said.
Electricity in 13 counties and cities in Guizhou had resumed by
noon yesterday while electricity in 19 places have been partially
restored, the report said.
However, 12 counties and cities in the province are still in
darkness.
Meteorologists forecast sleet and a low of minus five degrees
Celsius today, said the report.
(Shanghai Daily January 30, 2008)