A Chinese energy official ordered on Sunday "all-out efforts" to restore the power grid facilities in quake-hit Sichuan Province to support disaster relief.

Zhang Guobao, director of National Bureau of Energy, said power grids were seriously affected by the most powerful quake to hit the nation since 1949. The quake rocked Wenchuan County, Sichuan on May 12. Many other areas were also affected by the 8.0 magnitude quake.

The State Grid Corp of China (SGCC) should do its utmost to restore grid facilities as the whole disaster relief process could not do without power, Zhang said in an inspection tour to the Sichuan Power Company under the SGCC.

Zhang said Sichuan's power supply was not quite optimistic as small hydroelectric stations and coal transport were affected by the quake.

He ordered the SGCC to try every means to ensure power and coal supply for Sichuan.

The quake death toll in Sichuan alone was 31,978 as of 4 p.m. Sunday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2008)