China: July power output rises 12% to record

[phantom power]

Output rose 12 percent from a year earlier to 377.6 billion kilowatt-hours, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics Wednesday. That surpassed the previous all-time high of 350 billion kilowatt-hours in December.

China typically consumes more electricity between July and September as summer temperatures prompt increased use of air-conditioners. Power demand growth may be tempered by slowing industrial production as the government clamps down on real-estate speculation, curbs lending and shuts factories to meet energy conservation targets.

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China's industrial output grew the least in 11 months in July while coal prices at Qinhuangdao, the country's largest port for the fuel, dropped in the week ended July 26, the first decline during the three-month summer period since 2007, according to sxcoal.com, a Chinese data provider. Coal is used to fuel 80 percent of the nation's power plants.

Thermal coal inventories at the port, which ships half of China's seaborne coal, rose 29 percent to 7.28 million metric tons as of Aug 6 compared with a month earlier, data from Shanghai Steelhome Information show.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-08/11/content_11140390.htm