China wary of ripple effects as power-producer provinces combat drought | South China Morning Post (scmp.com) The southwestern provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, China’s major producers of hydroelectric power, have been contending with drought Dry spell threatens more than just agriculture, as memories of recent blackouts loom large and conditions could stunt aluminium sector China’s Ministry of Water Resources has marshalled resources for a large-scale drought response in the southwestern provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan while advising other regions to monitor their situations closely, raising worries over the impact of extreme weather on this year’s grain, hydropower and aluminium production. As part of its level four emergency protocols – the lowest in its four-tier system – the ministry will send a working group to the provinces to guide relief work, and has asked other grain-producing regions to prepare for possible dry periods in advance. “The drought may continue to develop as spring rainfall in the region is relatively low and water storage is also gradually decreasing,” the ministry warned in a statement on Friday. “The temperature is rising rapidly and water consumption is also increasing for spring farming.” Sichuan and Yunnan, the country’s top two provinces for hydroelectric power generation, have had to contend with consecutive summer droughts – most notably in 2022, when blackouts followed prolonged shortages – and analysts said the present conditions could further disrupt activity. “The drought will impact this year’s agricultural production as it coincides with the spring ploughing season across China, but the extent of its impact on food production will depend on how well local governments respond to drought,” said Peng Peng, executive chairman of the Guangdong Society of Reform. Sichuan is one of China’s major grain-producing regions, and the only one in the country’s southwest. The current drought came as a result of the El Nino phenomenon, a warming phase in winds and sea surface temperatures affecting the climate. The latest iteration began last June. China is likely to experience an even hotter year with more frequent extreme weather as El Nino continues, Zhou Bing, chief expert at China’s National Climate Centre, told state media outlet CCTV last December. The drought will also affect electricity demand for industrial hubs, Peng said, such as the southern province of Guangdong – China’s largest regional economy which, according to government data, relies on Yunnan for one-third of its electricity supply. In 2022, nearly 70 per cent of Guangdong’s external electricity supply came from Yunnan, Tianfeng Securities data showed. Yunnan is also a major producer of energy-intensive aluminium, a material widely used in the manufacture of aircraft, ships, automobiles, industrial wiring and construction materials.Yunnan province is also important producer of natural rubber, tea and coffee in China. The province has a production capacity of 6.1 million metric tonnes of aluminium, and according to local government projections will eventually be able to produce 8 million, one-fifth of China’s total. Since 2017, Yunnan has received transfers of aluminium smelting infrastructure from the eastern province of Shandong, part of plans to become a green industry centre by using its considerable hydroelectric capacity to power the energy-intensive sector. But S&P Global estimated last year that the aluminium sector consumes 42 per cent of the province’s industrial electricity, aggravating power shortages in the region. “Yunnan’s aluminium industry will be hit by the power shortage, although the current short-term production cuts are unlikely to have a major impact on the whole industry,” Peng said. With heightened demand for aluminium and the continuing drought, Yunnan is likely to see power shortfalls this year, up to 27 billion kilowatt-hours’ worth as calculated by the Kunming Power Exchange Centre last month.
From China Xinhua News Agency “ China has earmarked 174 million yuan (about 24.51 million US dollars) from the central government funding to support drought relief in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Monday. The disaster relief funds, allocated by the MOF and the Ministry of Water Resources, will mainly be used to ensure the safety of drinking water and agricultural irrigation in the drought-affected areas of the two provinces, the MOF said. Temperatures in the two provinces are expected to be 1 to 2 degrees Celsius higher than normal years in April, the China Meteorological Administration said last week. The drought is likely to persist in the two provinces, the administration said, urging strengthened water resource management. ”
What did you expect? You've been the biggest polluter for the last 30 years. It's a small price compared to how much damage you've done to this planet.
Blame El Nino for this. And keep watching price of aluminum, natural rubber, tea and coffee,etc, which need some water or hydroelectricity to produce.
Over 2,300 people battling forest fire in southwest China Over 2,300 people battling forest fire in southwest China-Xinhua (news.cn) A fire-fighting helicopter operates at the site of a forest fire in Jinning District of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 14, 2024. More than 2,300 people are battling a forest fire that has raged in southwest China's Yunnan Province since Friday, local authorities said Sunday. The fire started at around 4 p.m. Friday in Diantou Village in Jinning District of the capital city Kunming. No casualties have been reported so far. Officials confirmed the mobilization of 46 excavators and two helicopters to help put out the blaze. (Xinhua) KUNMING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- More than 2,300 people are battling a forest fire that has raged in southwest China's Yunnan Province since Friday, local authorities said Sunday. The fire started at around 4 p.m. Friday in Diantou Village in Jinning District of the capital city Kunming. No casualties have been reported so far. Officials confirmed the mobilization of 46 excavators and two helicopters to help put out the blaze. ■ Firefighters operate at the site of a forest fire in Jinning District of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 14, 2024. More than 2,300 people are battling a forest fire that has raged in southwest China's Yunnan Province since Friday, local authorities said Sunday. The fire started at around 4 p.m. Friday in Diantou Village in Jinning District of the capital city Kunming. No casualties have been reported so far. Officials confirmed the mobilization of 46 excavators and two helicopters to help put out the blaze. (Xinhua) Firefighters operate at the site of a forest fire in Jinning District of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2024. More than 2,300 people are battling a forest fire that has raged in southwest China's Yunnan Province since Friday, local authorities said Sunday. The fire started at around 4 p.m. Friday in Diantou Village in Jinning District of the capital city Kunming. No casualties have been reported so far. Officials confirmed the mobilization of 46 excavators and two helicopters to help put out the blaze.