China to face complicated power supply conditions this summer

BEIJING - China is likely to see complicated power supply conditions this summer, with prominent increases in use of electricity, coal and natural gas, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said Tuesday.

"The power supply complications come as a booming economy and climate change are taking place," NDRC spokesperson Yan Pengcheng told a press briefing. "Although power strains exist in a few regions during certain periods, power supply remains stable in general."

The use of electricity from coal has increased substantially this year with 100 million tonnes more consumed in the first six months than the same period a year ago, amounting to the total consumption of last year.

The NDRC estimates that use of electricity from coal will increase remarkably this summer compared with last.

In the first half of this year, the country's total consumption of electricity rose 9.4 percent year on year, the most since 2012.