Plans for power grid listing

China is preparing a multi-billion dollar listing of China Southern Power Grid Corporation, its state-run distribution arm in the south, to help fund a planned US$2.5 trillion, 30-year power expansion program for the region, the Financial Times reported. Bankers said they had been approached by Beijing to help restructure the finances and operations of the grid ahead of the possible listing of 25% of the grid, valued at about US$24.7 billion. The southern grid's 15,000 kilometer network includes manufacturing hub Guangdong, where power demand rose by more than 80% last year.