Coal Shortages Cause Severe Power Cuts in China

Similar shortages have also gripped other provinces including Shanxi in the north and Henan in central China, as well as the southwestern city of Chongqing. Experts have blamed the shortages on soaring coal prices, insufficient logistics facilities,
and increasing transportation costs. However, some power cuts may be unrelated to the coal shortages, as local governments struggle to meet annual energy efficiency targets set by Beijing. China has sought to reduce energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product, so called carbon intensity, by 20% by year’s end from 2005 levels. A 15.6% reduction was realized from 2006 to 2009.