China, the biggest manufacturing country in the world, is facing an acute power shortage for the past couple of weeks, which has thrown normal life out of gear while the Beijing government is struggling to make necessary arrangements to restore the situation. However, the situation is too grave and considered the worst in China’s history. Tens of millions of people are affected. The magnitude of the problem can be gauged from the fact that lifts are forced to turn off, store and factory operating hours are reduced while at some places there is simply blackouts.
According to Chinese state media, 20 of the total 31 provinces in China are implementing energy-rationing, putting the industry sector of the world’s second-largest economy in a fix. The problem hit China in the wake of the expected rebound in demand from Chinese factories as the world begins to reopen following long lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, factories are either shut or ordered to reduce operations. In Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces, there are fears of the collapse of the entire electricity grid if power cuts are not carried out.
[1] https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/10/07/china-energy-crisis-electricity-coal-pricing-renewables/
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/29/china-hit-by-power-cuts-and-factory-closures-as-energy-crisis-bites