Companies in China need to tighten their energy belt.

The country is indeed rationing electricity for professionals in the Southwest, because of the high temperatures which are pulling on demand, at a time when hydroelectric installations are affected by the weakness of the rivers.

In Sichuan, temperatures regularly exceed 40 ° C in recent days, which leads to an almost systematic use of air conditioning to cool the approximately 84 million inhabitants.

To produce its electricity, the province depends 80% on hydraulic dams.

But rivers in the area have dried up, according to China's Ministry of Water Resources.

Individuals are not affected

To save electricity, 19 cities in Sichuan have therefore ordered factories and businesses to suspend their activity, according to a notice published on Sunday and relayed by the official media.

In force until Saturday, the measure does not however concern individuals.

However, some companies may operate at limited capacity for special needs.

In addition, in the East, the coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, as well as Anhui have also imposed electricity rationing for professionals.

Sichuan is a key region in China for the manufacture of lithium, a metal present in electric batteries.

A factory operated by the Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, the main supplier of the American Apple, notably suspended its production.

Consequence of the restrictions: the production of lithium should be reduced by at least 1,200 tons, which makes jump the course of lithium carbonate, underlines the analyst Susan Zou, of the specialized firm Rystad Energy.

Climate change pointed out

China again issued several red alerts on Monday due to scorching temperatures in several regions.

Midsummer heat waves are not unusual in China, especially in the arid west and south.

But they seem to be getting stronger in recent years with climate change, scientists say.

Automotive

Biden passes legislation to support US semiconductors

Planet

UN-Climate: Simon Stiell, former Minister of the Environment of Grenada, appointed head of the Convention

  • World

  • China

  • Planet

  • electricity

  • Heat

  • Climate change