Focus on Arts and Ecology

18-24 March 2019

The National Energy Administration has announced that only 10 of the 28 provinces under its control will be restricted from authorizing new plants until 2022 due to overcapacity, reports The Paper. This runs contrary to government measures implemented since 2013 to curb coal power overcapacity by restricting the construction of new plants. The NEA annually releases three-year forecasts for coal power development. This year eight provinces received a red alert restriction while the number was 16 last year and 26 the year before that. The loosening of the restriction follows a forecasted increase in electricity demand that may have exceeded previous predictions. Non-restricted provinces will be able to approve new coal plant construction. Some of these provinces, such as Tianjin and Hebei, will still be required to exercise strict control in approving new projects due to water scarcity, air pollution and efforts to limit total coal consumption.