China’s maximum electricity load during this year’s heating season is expected to be around 1.52 billion kilowatts

China News Service, Beijing, November 6 (Wang Mengyao, Zhuge Ruixin) Tang Yao, deputy director of the Economic Operation Regulation Bureau of China's National Development and Reform Commission, pointed out in Beijing on the 6th that the country's highest electricity load during the heating season is expected to reach about 1.52 billion kilowatts, an increase of about 90 million kilowatts from the peak of the previous heating season.

At the “15th Five-Year Plan” series of press conferences held by the National Development and Reform Commission on the same day, Tang Wei pointed out that due to the impact of the super El Niño event, China’s temperatures are expected to be generally high this winter, but there will be slightly more cold waves, large fluctuations in cold and warm temperatures, and extreme weather may occur frequently, which is expected to bring challenges to ensuring energy supply. Overall, energy supply during this winter heating season can generally meet demand, and people are guaranteed a warm winter.

Tang Ai pointed out that China’s energy supply base continues to be consolidated. In September, the national coal output was 385 million tons. In October, the output further increased month-on-month. The thermal coal inventory remained high. As of the end of October, the coal stockpiles in the national regulated power plants exceeded 210 million tons, which was available for 36 days. At present, it has been confirmed that natural gas resources exceed 200 billion cubic meters during the heating season, and underground gas storage has been fully stored, which can generally cover demand. As of the end of September, the country's installed power generation capacity exceeded 4.13 billion kilowatts, an increase of 420 million kilowatts year-on-year, strongly supporting the electricity demand for economic and social development.

Peak supply capacity has also been significantly enhanced. Tang Wei said that in terms of natural gas, the peak daily supply capacity of natural gas in this winter’s heating season exceeds 1.75 billion cubic meters, which is nearly 70 million cubic meters higher than the peak gas consumption in the previous heating season. In terms of electricity, it is expected that the country's highest electricity load during the heating season will reach about 1.52 billion kilowatts, an increase of about 90 million kilowatts from the peak of the previous heating season. The installed capacity of conventional power sources has increased by about 100 million kilowatts year-on-year. The overall increase in power supply capacity can ensure demand growth.

Tang Ai said that in the next step, overall coordination and operation adjustment will be strengthened, and all work will be done in depth and meticulously to ensure the overall stability of the national energy supply in winter and the warm winter for the people.