China swelters in longest heatwave in over 60 years

Four provinces rationing power to ensure homes remain supplied with electricity

- Danson Cheong

China is in the grip of its longest heatwave since meteorological records began in 1961, with at least four provinces rationing power as electricity consumption climbed.

Data from China’s National Climate Centre showed this latest heatwave has persisted for 66 days as at yesterday, outstripping the record of 62 days in 2013.

Factories in Sichuan, Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangsu are rationing power in order to ensure that electricity supplies are maintained for residential users, with Sichuan province particularly hard-hit as drought cripples the production of hydropower.

Chinese officials have warned that climate change could cause such extreme weather to become more common, highlighting the economic impact that heatwaves could cause in China.

An emergency notice from the Sichuan provincial government on Monday ordered industrial power users to suspend production until Saturday.

“Take a ‘high-temperature holiday’ and leave power for the people,” said the notice.

Sichuan relies on hydropower to produce 80 per cent of its electricity, but average rainfall since last month amounted to 135.9mm, about half that of previous years, causing water levels at hydropower reservoirs to plunge to historic lows, state media reported.