SHANGHAI, Aug 23 (SMM) - Due to the high temperature in July, the energy consumption management and control intensified in various regions, and a series of policies for power restrictions have been introduced. Many energy-intensive enterprises were required to suspend the production. At present, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong regions have issued the notice of power rationing. The apportion details: On August 7, Zhejiang government held an emergency meeting on power supply and orderly consumption. The meeting requested the province to start C-level measures at 7:00 a.m. on August 8 and the measures would be adjusted according to the situation on August 9. Some steel mills were notified to stop the production from 7:00-23:00 on August 13 and August 14, and only basic lighting and electricity consumption of residents were allowed.
According to SMM research, most of the nickel sulphate factories in Zhejiang were most affected by the power rationing. The specific power curtailment time is 24 hours a day, 2 days a week, and the power curtailment period of the remaining five days was 5-12 p.m. The production of nickel sulphate factories were severely affected. According to SMM, the output of nickel sulphate in Zhejiang stood 5,388 mt in Ni content in July. The nickel sulphate output in Zhejiang is expected to decline to 4,416 mt in Ni content in August, down 18% on the month. In terms of domestic nickel sulphate output, the domestic output in July was about 29,955 mt in Ni content, and that in August is expected to be about 30,221 mt in Ni content, up only 0.88% on the month. Despite the peak season of the new energy industry, affected by the power rationing in Zhejiang, the increase in the nickel sulphate output was lower than expected.
