Blackout in Lebanon, power crisis in China due to Jinping's wrong decisions

Beirut / Beijing, Dt

Like India, the West Asian country of Lebanon has a serious power problem. The whole of Lebanon has been plunged into darkness due to fuel shortages. Power cuts have been announced in the country for several days. Lebanon's two largest power stations have stopped working. In China, on the other hand, the problem of electricity has become serious. With 90 per cent of China's power generation dependent on coal, some of President Xi Jinping's misguided decisions are said to have exacerbated the power crisis.

According to Sky News, power generation at Lebanon's Al Zahrani and Deir Ammar power stations has dropped by 300 MW. Many Lebanese factories have closed due to fuel shortages. It has also created a shortage of food and drink. People are forced to buy goods through the black market. Even at petrol pumps many km of vehicles. Long lines are being seen.

The United Nations estimates that the fuel crisis in Lebanon could become more serious in the coming days. 9% of the country's population is living below the poverty line. Rising unemployment and the devaluation of the currency have also created problems. Political instability, meanwhile, has exacerbated the problem.

China, meanwhile, is currently facing the most serious power crisis in decades. Its impact is falling on China's entire supply chain. As a result, the global economy, which is on the path to recovery after the Corona epidemic, is also expected to suffer. The main reason for this problem is China's dependence on coal for power generation. A foreign policy report also blamed some of the Jinping government's wrong decisions for the problem. The report said the government made some wrong decisions at the policy level. Industrial production in China declined in September due to the power crisis.

The report said that the price to be paid by the power producers is determined by the government, but the price of coal depends on the global market. Coal prices have risen globally. It is not possible for power plants to sell electricity at a loss with expensive coal. The problem is compounded by the fact that China is 90 per cent dependent on coal for power generation.

According to the report, the Chinese government has banned local coal companies from raising prices as global demand has made coal more expensive. As a result, many companies have cut coal production. The shortage of electricity has had a serious impact on the technology, paper, food processing, automobile and textile industries. Inflationary pressures have also increased. Companies like Apple and Tesla have had to cut production due to power shortages.

China to increase coal production to 100 million tonnes

Beijing, Ta. 3

The Chinese government has asked Mongolia to increase production to 100 million tonnes from dozens of coal mines. The government-run Securities Times said Mongolia is China's main coal-producing region. Dozens of provinces and territories have faced restrictions on energy consumption in recent months as high coal prices, government power restrictions and tight emission targets have put power supply companies in jeopardy. The Corona epidemic disrupted China's coal supply. It also had an impact on coal imports following a trade stalemate with Australia.