China's power shortage to boost demand for oil, coal, natural gas and copper

Wall Street Journal ^ | May 26, 2011 | Mehmet Muja

[NRG1973]

China's power shortage to boost demand for oil, coal, natural gas and copper

China may witnessed the worst power shortage in decades in 2011. The Chinese economy is booming. China has achieved an average annual growth rate of 10% since 1990 and, according to the World Bank, is now the second largest economy in the world.

China is an industrial power and is in need of much more energy production. China's main source of energy is coal currently represents 70% of primary energy consumption.

The electricity generated in China is from coal-fired power plants . China witnessed the worst power shortage in decades in 2004, but the country's leading power distributor said that this year might be worse. China's 26 provincial regions would suffer combined power shortages of 30 million kilowatts in 2011.

As least 10 provincial grids, covering regions such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and industrial provinces of Hebei, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, would be hit by power shortages . This year's power shortage factors, including a shortage of thermal coal, insufficient power generating facilities and grid transmission problems.

China to invest $391billion in power grids from 2011-2015. China's power plan investments mean copper demand would to 8 million tonnes in 2011. Demand for natural gas in China is expected to spike 20 percent to 130 billion cubic meters in 2011 .

Albanian_Minerals President Sahit_Muja said "China is one hungry dragon for oil , copper, coal and natural gas.

[NRG1973]

It sounds like China will have to burn diesel fuel for electrcity this summer. It hasn't had to do that since the Olympics in 2008.

[NRG1973]

Oddly enough the issue is weather related as the drought in China is resulting in insufficient power from hydro-electric sources.

Hydropower running out of steam due to drought:
http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2011-05/25/content_22635822.htm

I’m surprised that the global warming crowd isn’t making a big deal about this.

[silverleaf]

Interesting little tend revealed when residents of Annapolis noticed a build-up of shipping traffic on the Chesapeake Bay.... the cause?

Coal. We are sending our coal (that the EPA wont allow US industry to burn) to uber polluter China.

Exports of US coal to China since zerO took office - UP 1,000%

There are no coincidences.

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/col/2011/04/28-23/form_anniversaries.html

[Brilliant]

How can they have a power shortage? According to Obama they are the world leader in alternative energy.

[silverleaf]

The USA is their alternative energy

They are importing our coal as fast as we can ship it to them. Perhaps zerO’s calls for upgrading US infrastructure upgardes is so we can ship or coal and food all the faster to to waiting Chinese ships in Chinese-controlled economic zones in US ports.

China finds it cheaper to import our coal to its populated coasts, than to expand its own infrastructure to reach its own coal in the Chinese interior.

Pollution control/”globull warming”, not an issue in China.
They burn our coal and churn out pollution, to power factories that build energy-inefficient windwmills and electric trains.... to sell to America

Nice tap dancing by the greenies

[Western Phil]

I’m surprised that the global warming crowd isn’t making a big deal about this.

Global warming doesn't apply to China.

[TexasRepublic]

Why doesn’t China use all those solar panels they make?