China issues first national drought alert, rations power
Audio 01:09
Residents pass by a dark shopping mall for electricity rationing measures in Chengdu, August 17, 2022. © AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
China has issued its first national drought alert of the year, facing temperatures exceeding 40 degrees, dried up rivers and blackouts.
In the center of the country, the province of Sichuan had to take drastic measures to save electricity.
Factories and companies are the first victims, and the consequences could be felt.
The provincial capital, Chengdu had to partially turn off the lights.
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In Chengdu, the streets are plunged into darkness, as are the corridors of the metro.
Store signs and other billboards remained dark, on the orders of the authorities.
Objective: to save energy and avoid
the power cuts
that are increasing in the region, to the chagrin of the population.
“
We are in the dark
”
“
This is the current situation in Sichuan
, explains a resident.
It's 40
degrees and we're in the dark.
This building has no more electricity, that one either, everyone is outside.
»
More than 80% of electricity production in the region depends on hydraulic dams.
However, China is hit by an
unprecedented
heat wave and the rivers are dry like the Yangtze: the level of the largest river in the country has never been so low.
On its shores, further north, as in Wuhan, it is amazement.
"
It's unimaginable
"
“
This year the weather is exceptional.
It's unimaginable
, testifies another inhabitant.
At this time, we are
used to floods
.
Last year, access to the banks of the river was prohibited as the water was high.
»
Sichuan has rationed electricity for its factories and businesses.
And the industrial provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, powered by electricity from Sichuan, could do the same.
A new blow for the Chinese economy, already damaged by the “
zero Covid
” policy.
► To read also:
In Europe, a drought with multiple consequences
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