fredag 1. oktober 2021

China power cuts: What is causing the country's blackouts?

China is struggling with a severe shortage of electricity which has left millions of homes and businesses hit by power cuts. Blackouts are not that unusual in the country but this year a number of factors have contributed to a perfect storm for electricity suppliers.

The problem is particularly serious in China's north eastern industrial hubs as winter approaches - and is something that could have implications for the rest of the world. The country has in the past struggled to balance electricity supplies with demand, which has often left many of China's provinces at risk of power outages. During times of peak power consumption in the summer and winter the problem becomes particularly acute. But this year a number of factors have come together to make the issue especially serious. As the world starts to reopen after the pandemic, demand for Chinese goods is surging and the factories making them need a lot more power.