Coal Shortage, Electricity Rationing Continue in China as Cold Weather Lingers

BEIJING, Jan. 12 -- China was still suffering from coal shortage because of the lingering cold weather and electricity rationing continued in five provinces and municipalities, including the country's major coal producer Shanxi Province.

As of Sunday, coal reserves in 598 major power plants were decreasing and could sustain for nine days. Coal storages in 205 power plants could not run for seven days, a national alarming level, according to the National Power Dispatch and Communication Center.

The situation worsened in 11 percent of the power plants, which would shut production at any time as coal reserves could not support for three days of power generation.

On Sunday, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Hubei and Chongqing continued electricity rationing because of power shortage.

Because of a cold snap, temperature in parts of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern China and northeastern China was expected to fall by six to eight degrees Celsius between Monday and Tuesday, according to the China Meteorological Administration.

Some regions in southern China would experience small or moderate snow falls during the period, the administration forecast.