On November 10, national coal output reached 12.05 million tons, a record high, and power plants stored 123 million tons of coal
my country's energy supply guarantee has achieved initial results
Our reporter Liu Kun
"Guangming Daily" (November 12, 2021 07 Edition)
Recently, my country has experienced strong cooling and cold waves, and severe weather such as strong winds and blizzards have appeared in some areas. Some people have called "winter overnight" and "the first snow is beautiful, but the cold is crying."
In the face of the "cliff-breaking" cooling, what is the situation of my country's energy supply and demand? Is there a guarantee for energy consumption for people's livelihood this winter and next spring?
National coal production hit a record high
Affected by cold wave weather and other factors, national coal production fell below 11 million tons on November 6.
In response to this, major coal producing areas such as Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia have organized production scientifically and rationally, strengthened safety management, accelerated the resumption of production, and minimized the impact of cold waves on stable production and increased production.
The reporter learned from the National Development and Reform Commission that at present, as the measures to increase coal production and supply continue to take effect, the high-quality coal production capacity has been further released, and the national coal production has quickly recovered and increased rapidly.
From November 7th to 9th, the dispatched daily average output reached 11.75 million tons, which has exceeded the average production level of the days before the cold wave. The output on November 9th reached 11.825 million tons, the third highest in recent years.
On November 10, the daily output of coal dispatched reached 12.05 million tons, a record high, an increase of 120,000 tons from the previous peak; among them, coal production in Shanxi, Shaanxi, Xinjiang and other provinces all set new highs in recent years, which is a guarantee for the national energy. Provide a firmer foundation for price stabilization.
At the same time, coal prices have gradually returned to rationality.
After Inner Mongolia Yitai Group, Mengtai Group, Huineng Group and Xinglong Group took the initiative to lower the price of pit coal, state-owned enterprises such as National Energy Group and China Coal Group also took the initiative to lower coal prices.
In addition, at a recent meeting held by the China Coal Transportation and Marketing Association, more than 10 major coal companies across the country expressed their views to follow up and took the initiative to reduce the price of 5,500 kcal thermal coal pitheads in the main production area to below 1,000 yuan per ton.
The relevant person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission said that from the market monitoring situation, the coal supply and demand situation has continued to improve recently, and the spot market prices of coal futures have all declined significantly.
With the increase in coal production in the later period, the supply and demand situation in the coal market will further improve, and it is expected that coal prices will accelerate their return to a reasonable level.
The level of coal storage in power plants is further improved
Recently, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia have carried out special rectification actions. Through the establishment of reporting telephones, on-site investigations and inspections, etc., a comprehensive survey of coal sites in their jurisdictions has been carried out, and supervision and rectification have been strengthened by classification. Coal storage sites with environmental protection and safety procedures shall severely crack down on illegal profit-making activities such as hoarding and driving up coal prices by using illegal coal storage sites to maintain the order of the coal business market.
In addition, railway transportation companies such as the China National Railway Group have also spared no effort in organizing additional transportation, and the volume of railway coal shipments has repeatedly hit historical highs, ensuring that coal production and supply are increased and coal storage is rapidly increased.
"Production, transportation, and demand parties actively respond to the impact of severe weather on energy supply. Railways, highways, and ports take proactive measures to increase the supply of thermal coal. The impact of the cold wave on the transportation of thermal coal is gradually eliminated. "The relevant person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission said that with the continuous increase in national coal production and market supply, the level of coal supply, coal storage and port coal storage in power plants has further improved.
According to statistics, on November 9th, the coal supply of power plants nationwide exceeded the coal consumption by more than 1.5 million tons, and the coal storage exceeded 120 million tons, an increase of more than 12 million tons from the end of October, and the number of days available was increased to 21 days.
On the 10th, coal supply from power plants nationwide once again exceeded 8 million tons, reaching 8.143 million tons; coal supply exceeded coal consumption by more than 2 million tons, reaching 2.043 million tons, and power plants stocking coal reached 123 million tons, and the available days exceeded 21 days.
On the 11th, the main northern ports stored 24 million tons of coal, an increase of more than 4 million tons from the beginning of the month; among them, Qinhuangdao Port had 5.65 million tons of coal, an increase of 600,000 tons from the beginning of the month.
"In the short term, strong regulation is necessary." Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher of the China International Economic Exchange Center, said that from the long-term perspective of high-quality development, reforms must be further deepened, especially the market-oriented reforms in the coal power sector, with greater overall coordination. effort.
Have the ability to ensure that the masses are warm during the winter
According to the forecast by the Meteorological Department, from November 7 to 16, the average temperature in most parts of the country will be 2°C to 4°C lower than normal in the same period of the year, and the local temperature will be about 6°C lower; Affecting most of North China and the southern part of Northeast China, the temperature will drop by 4℃ to 6℃.
The cold wave is raging, and various localities and departments have taken multiple measures to ensure energy supply.
The governments and relevant departments of many places in Inner Mongolia and the northeastern region stated that they have launched a level III emergency response to meteorological disasters (blizzards), and are doing their best to prevent snow disasters and frost damage.
Since November 1st, Tianjin has started heat supply in advance, and the emergency heat supply team and daily maintenance team are on standby for 24 hours to deal with emergencies.
Ningxia Yinchuan has put forward 18 measures to ensure supply, and enhance the “warmness index” of the masses by strengthening the protection of coal, electricity, and natural gas.
In terms of ensuring reliable power supply, the National Development and Reform Commission has organized coal companies to sign a number of medium and long-term contracts with coal power companies on the basis of increasing production and supply.
As of November 6, the coverage of medium and long-term coal contracts for power and heating enterprises in various provinces, regions, and municipalities has exceeded 90%, of which 24 provinces, regions and cities have reached 100%.
At the same time, the National Development and Reform Commission, together with various regions, relevant departments, and enterprises, continued to promote the construction of a natural gas production, supply, storage and marketing system, laying a solid foundation for guaranteeing supply in winter.
The National Development and Reform Commission stated that there is no problem with full protection of electricity and gas for people's livelihood this winter and next spring. It will guide local governments and enterprises to prioritize people's livelihood, and if necessary, "overwhelm non-protective people", and scientifically formulate an orderly energy use plan.
"Our country has the resources, conditions, and ability to ensure that the people will survive the winter safely and warmly," said Su Ming, director of the Scientific Research and Foreign Affairs Division of the Energy Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomics.