Power shortages becoming widespread

Power shortages are becoming more widespread across China, according to a new national-level report. The China Electricity Council report found that power shortages had spread beyond the south of China, with 12 provinces and regions affected in the first half of the year, the South China Morning Post reported. These included Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Sichuan province. Power consumption in the first six months of the year was up 15.56%, to 1.5 trillion kWh from the same period in 2006. Industry accounted for about three-quarters of consumption, rising 17%. Inner Mongolia, Yunnan and Ningxia had the highest increases in consumption.