The National Development and Reform Commission and other departments have concentrated on responding to the recent shortage of coal and electricity supply and demand, and insist on giving priority to people's livelihood, and if necessary, "suppress the people".
Coal supply is guaranteed to be sufficient for heating this winter and next spring.
At the State Council’s regular policy briefing held on October 13th, the five units responded to the recent shortage of coal and electricity supply and demand. They once again emphasized the supremacy of the people. The energy supply for heating is sufficient.
The five units include the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Energy Administration, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the State Administration of Mine Safety and the State Grid.
Zhao Chenxin, a member of the Party Group of the National Development and Reform Commission and Secretary-General, said that to guarantee the supply, we must adhere to "a game of chess across the country," correct some localities to "one size fits all" suspend production and limit production or "exercise" carbon reduction, oppose inaction and chaotic actions, and strictly prohibit the formation of "resources" in some areas. The small cycle and protectionist tendencies of "providing the locals first" prohibit local authorities from shutting down coal mines without authorization.
The tight situation of power supply and demand across the country has eased
In order to cope with the tight supply and demand situation of coal and electricity, my country has adopted measures such as advancing coal production and supply, electricity price reform, coal-fired generating units should be fully issued, full coverage of medium and long-term coal contracts, and curbing the blind development of the "two highs".
Yu Bing, deputy director of the National Energy Administration, said that recently, the daily output of coal has stabilized at more than 11.2 million tons, an increase of 800,000 tons from before the National Day, creating a new high since February this year.
It is expected that coal production can be increased by 55 million tons in the fourth quarter.
At the same time, the National Energy Administration is working with the National Mine Safety Supervision Bureau to sort out a list of coal mines that have the potential to increase production and supply, and plan to release another batch of production capacity.
In terms of electricity, on October 11, the country’s daily power generation was 20.7 billion kWh, and the cumulative power generation that month was 228.5 billion kWh, a year-on-year increase of 10.8%.
Up to now, the cumulative annual power generation has reached 6274.9 billion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 13.1% year-on-year.
On October 11, the country's total orderly electricity consumption was 48.42 million kilowatts, and orderly electricity consumption has dropped from the peak in September.
Yu Bing said that with the efforts of all parties, the tight situation of power supply and demand across the country has eased since October.
At present, the national inventory of power coal is 81.99 million tons, and the available days are 15 days.
No more power cuts in Northeast China recently
The northeastern region was once on hot search due to power cuts imposed on residents. Recently, the local power supply and demand tensions have eased.
Liu Shaowei, head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, said that since September 27, the average daily power generation and reception of power grid companies in the northeast region has stabilized at more than 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours, and there have been no more power-cutting accidents.
The cold winter is approaching. When talking about the issue of maintaining heat supply in the Northeast, Yu Bing, deputy director of the National Energy Administration, said that this winter, the Northeast and other regions must adhere to the principle of "using heat to determine electricity and heat first" and prioritize the use of coal for power generation and heating.
Zhao Chenxin also said that the whole society can rest assured that the energy supply for heating the people is sufficient.
According to his understanding, starting in late September this year, as the weather in parts of the northwest and northeast became colder, heating has been gradually started in some counties in northern Xinjiang, northern Heilongjiang, and northern Inner Mongolia.
Judging from the current energy supply situation in Northeast China, since October 1, the average daily coal output of the central SOE Northeast coal mine has increased by 23% compared to the average output of the four days before the holiday.
As of October 11, the central SOE Northeast Power Plant's coal inventory increased by 28% compared to September 27, and the average available days of coal inventory increased by 44%.
As of October 9, Northeast and North China have 13.47 million kilowatts and 12.2 million kilowatts of coal-fired power generating units respectively. The capacity has been restarted, increasing the load protection capacity.
There is no problem with full protection of electricity and gas for people's livelihood
Li Ming, deputy chief engineer of the State Grid Corporation of China, said that since September, 17 provinces in the State Grid’s operating areas have implemented orderly electricity consumption. Peak load period in summer.
As winter is about to enter, the power supply and demand situation in the northern region is even more difficult.
Li Ming said that winter is the peak period of electricity consumption in the northern region, and it is also a dry period of hydropower. Hydroelectric power has dropped sharply. Coupled with the heating period of cogeneration units, it will present a complex situation of "three phases meeting".
State Grid predicts that the maximum load during this period will reach 1 billion kilowatts, exceeding the historical power level of 970 million kilowatts over the same period.
On the whole, there will be a state of tight power balance, and there will be hard gaps in some parts, and the power grid will have greater pressure to ensure power supply.
In this context, the protection of people's livelihood energy has been given priority.
According to statistics, energy consumption for people's livelihood accounts for a small proportion of the entire supply. Electricity consumption for residents accounts for about 15% of the total electricity consumption, and gas consumption for people's livelihood accounts for less than 50% of the total gas consumption.
Zhao Chenxin said that there is no problem with full protection of electricity and gas for these people's livelihoods.
The National Development and Reform Commission will instruct localities and enterprises to prioritize people's livelihood, and when necessary, "overwhelm the people", scientifically formulate an orderly energy use plan, and ensure that electricity rationing is not limited to residents, and gas restrictions are not limited to residents.
Measures of the National Development and Reform Commission to ensure the use of gas for heating in the north
First, urge the supply and demand parties to strictly follow the signed contract to ensure the supply and use of gas.
At present, the number of contracts signed by various regions has increased considerably compared with the actual consumption last year, and the demand for heating and gas in the northern region can be fully covered by the contract.
Second, urge all localities and related enterprises to strictly implement the price policy of residential valve stations, maintain the basic stability of residential gas prices such as heating, and reduce the impact of rising international gas prices to a controllable range.
At present, the spot CIF price of LNG in the international market is about 9 yuan/cubic meter, while the gate price in various places is generally below 2 yuan/cubic meter. Central oil and gas enterprises have made great contributions to ensuring the stability of the price of residential gas.
Third, organize "south gas to north" during the peak period to increase the use of gas storage.
Domestic self-produced gas, pipeline gas and imported LNG, together with gas storage facilities when necessary, have stored 27 billion cubic meters, which can meet the peak gas demand.
Fourth, for parts of the northern regions where resources may be tight, timely strengthen resource scheduling to ensure the need for heating and gas.
Residents' gas consumption and heating consumption are not very large, and they have the ability to do a good job of guaranteeing it.
Fifth, a plan of 300 million cubic meters per day for "suppressing non-residents" has been formulated. This is a plan. Strive to prepare and not use it, but once it is used, it must be effective.
Recently, we are organizing training, doing necessary drills, and implementing them in an orderly manner when necessary, to ensure people’s livelihood needs and ensure that the people live warmly through the winter.
Source: The Beijing News, the official website of the State Information Office / Chen Dong
Follow-up 1
Global energy supply and demand are tight, can my country guarantee it?
my country's coal supply will be guaranteed this winter and next spring
Zhao Chenxin said that the recent shortage of energy supply and demand is actually a large global energy supply situation, and it is also a complicated situation that my country must face to carry out energy supply guarantee work.
Since the beginning of this year, with the gradual recovery of the economy after the epidemic, global energy demand has increased sharply, and the prices of various energy varieties have risen sharply.
According to data released by various countries, in the first half of the year, coal consumption in the United States increased by nearly 30% year-on-year; at the end of September, the price of electricity in the United Kingdom doubled more than the same period last year, and the price of natural gas rose more than 2.5 times year-on-year.
On October 8, the price of thermal coal at the Port of Newcastle, Australia was US$244/ton, a year-on-year increase of 3.2 times.
From the perspective of our country, coal has always played an important role in ensuring national energy security.
In accordance with the needs of the recent supply and demand situation, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi and other relevant regions have promoted coal mines with the potential to increase production to release advanced production capacity as soon as possible under the premise of ensuring safe production.
As the related work has been carried out one after another, the phased results have been shown.
Zhao Chenxin said that this winter and next spring, my country's coal supply is guaranteed, and we have the ability to guarantee energy supply.
Follow-up 2
Promote the increase in production and supply, how can coal mines that do not meet the standard take the opportunity to expand?
Expansion of capacity in an orderly manner, to prevent unqualified mines from "free-riding" in the name of guaranteeing supply
Recently, coal mines such as Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi have been nuclearly increased coal mine production capacity to cope with the tight supply and demand of coal and electricity.
In Inner Mongolia alone, the production capacity of 72 coal mines was nuclearly increased, with a total of 98.35 million tons of new production capacity, close to 100 million tons.
Some public opinion is worried that there may be coal mines that do not meet the standard to take the opportunity to increase production capacity on the grounds of ensuring supply.
In this regard, Sun Qingguo, director of the Safety Fundamental Department of the National Mine Safety Supervision Bureau, said that emergency capacity expansion must be an orderly and degree expansion.
Resolutely do not allow self-willing, rush to the top, let alone relax safety standards, break the safety bottom line in the name of guaranteeing supply, expand safe mines into unsafe mines, and expand low-risk mines into high-risk mines. The life safety of miners brings risks.
During the nuclear increase in production capacity, the coal mines included in the guarantee supply list shall be verified on site by mine.
The continuity of mining is tight, and the safety management team fails to meet the requirements. Any expansion of capacity and production by employing "crowd tactics" to increase headroom and increase the labor intensity of employees is not allowed to pass.
Strictly prevent mines with severe disasters, mines with major hidden dangers, mines with insufficient safety protection capabilities and other substandard mines to "free ride" in the name of ensuring supply, and blindly expand capacity and increase production.
He introduced that in accordance with the principle of special affairs, appropriate liberalization, and strict adherence to the bottom line in special times, the bureau has currently reviewed 976 coal mines, of which 153 have met the conditions for safe supply, which can increase production capacity by approximately 220 million tons per year. It is expected that coal production can be increased by 55 million tons in the fourth quarter, with an average daily increase of 600,000 tons, which has a positive effect on alleviating tight supply and demand and stabilizing coal prices.
Recently, the list of coal mines with the potential to increase production and supply is being sorted out, and another batch of production capacity is being released.
Follow-up 3
Will the increase in coal production affect the "dual carbon"?
"Our country can achieve the set goals in a coordinated manner"
Last year, China proposed to strive for the peak of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, also known as the "dual carbon" goal.
In response to the current tight coal supply and demand, China has recently increased coal production capacity in some areas, and there are public concerns that this may affect the realization of the "dual carbon" goal.
In this regard, Zhao Chenxin said that the recent release of advanced coal production capacity in China has released legal and compliant coal mines. This release is promoted in accordance with market-oriented and rule-of-law methods.
At the same time, China is also taking concrete actions to promote carbon peak and carbon neutrality.
For example, speed up the transformation and upgrading of coal-fired power generating units, vigorously develop renewable energy, and speed up the planning and construction of large-scale wind power photovoltaic base projects in deserts, Gobi, and desert areas.
"When we are doing our work, we have always insisted on systematic thinking and overall planning." Zhao Chenxin said that China has the ability to ensure a safe and stable supply of energy, while also being able to achieve the set goals in a coordinated manner. The announced goals will be achieved unswervingly.
Beijing News reporter Jiang Huizi