China to increase power capacity by 85 mm kW in 2010
China, with the world's second largest power capacity after the United States, will add 85 mm kW of new capacity in
2010 to bring the total to around 950 mm kW, industry association said.
Of the newly increased capacity, 55 mm kW will be coal-fired, 15 mm kW for hydropower, 13 mm kW for wind power and
1.08 mm kW for nuclear power, the China Electricity Council (CEC) said in a report.
Power consumption increase is estimated to quicken to 9 % in 2010 from 6 % in 2009 to 3.97 tn kWh driven by
continuous economic recovery, the report said.
The nation will spend yuan 660 bn ($ 97 bn) upgrading power infrastructure, less than 2009's yuan 755.8 bn.
Last year's hefty spending is boosted by government's stimulus package to tackle the global economic recession. As
the economic contingency measures gradually wind down, the investment will be less aggressive this year, said Xue
Jing, analyst with CEC.
The association said power coal will face pressure for price hikes in 2010 due to tight supply. It called for further
reform of electricity prices and give market a bigger say in setting power coal prices to make them better reflect
real demand.
