China supercharges preparedness for massive power outages with first emergency drill of its kind
- Largest and most extensive joint exercise in eastern region aims to ensure that extreme summer weather will not cripple power grids and leave people in the dark
- Undertaking comes as China faces urgent need to protect manufacturing and industrial production amid a weaker-than-expected economic recovery
Bracing for the likelihood of a serious energy crunch during the hot summer months, China has staged its first-ever emergency drill to ensure it can handle large-scale power outages in its eastern region.
On Thursday, the National Energy Administration (NEA) and the regional governments of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Fujian carried out the drill, according to a notice posted on the agency’s website.
“This is the first time that the National Energy Administration has held an emergency drill for large-scale power outages across provinces and regions. It is also the largest, most extensive and most targeted joint emergency drill for power emergencies,” the notice said.
The East China Power Grid is the largest regional power grid, with the highest voltage level in China, according to the NEA, which estimated that the maximum power load of the grid could hit 397.25 million kilowatts this summer.
The situation involving power-grid security and supply protection is relatively severe
“The situation involving power-grid security and supply protection is relatively severe,” the NEA said.
The exercise took into account the “operating characteristics and main safety risks” of the East China Power Grid, the NEA said, adding that participants included about 30 departments, with energy-regulatory agencies, power grids and related power-generation companies, Shanghai’s underground rail network, hospitals and chemical companies.
