GUANGZHOU: The industrial power shortage in the southern province of Guangdong has been relatively eased thanks to new power plants and resumed electricity transmission from the mainland's southwest region.

Another plant began operating yesterday in the province's eastern region. The Chaozhou Datang Power Plant has a generating capacity of nearly 400,000 kilowatt hours (kWh).

Two other plants in Shanwei and Huilai have been operational since last month. All three plants have a combined capacity of nearly 3 million kWh.

"The new plants have helped reduce the industrial power shortage," said Li Xiangming, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Economic and Trade Commission.

Industries in the Pearl River Delta region fell upon harsh times in terms of electricity consumption after the Chinese New Year, due to the severe weather that damaged power- supply facilities.

The Guangdong government estimated early last month that the province would face its most serious power crisis since the late 1970s.

Li said that the electricity-load gap in the province would be between 11 million and 12 million kWh during the peak consumption periods this year.

"But with more power transmitted from other regions, and the operation of new local plants, the gap is expected to be reduced slightly," Li said.

According to Li, 4.8 million kWh has been transported since Wednesday from the Guizhou power grid network to the provincial capital city of Guangzhou.

Guangdong, one of the provinces that rely heavily on power transmission from the mainland's west region, has been seriously hit by power shortage since January, when heavy rain and snow began hitting the region.

"The total capacity transmitted from Guizhou has been increased to about 9 million kWh, helping reduce the power shortage in Guangzhou," said Li Yanping, an official with the Guangzhou power supply company.

The electricity-load gap has been reduced from 1.2 million kWh before the Chinese New Year to about 600,000 kWh now, according to Li.

"However, the gap is expected to rise due to the rising temperature," Li said. "All industries, especially high energy-consuming enterprises, must try their best to save electricity."

(HK Edition 03/14/2008 page2)