Shanghai’s major power generator Shenergy increases coal reserves, completes maintenance ahead of summer heatwave

The state-owned power generator said it will continue to boost reserves amid forecasts for a surge in electricity demand during the summer

The Shanghai Waigaoqiao No 3 Power Generation plant, one of Shenergy’s key assets, has stored 200,000 tonnes of coal

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Shanghai’s Shenergy is increasing coal reserves ahead of hot summer. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:00am, 16 Jun 2023

Shenergy has increased its reserves of coal and conducted thorough maintenance as one of Shanghai’s major power producers moves to help avert an energy crunch in the city amid an expected summer heatwave.

The state-owned power generator, which has a capacity of 8 gigawatts at its coal-fired plants, said it will continue to boost reserves amid forecasts for a surge in electricity demand during the hot summer period.

“Electricity will be in high demand this summer and we are prepared,” Chen Tao, vice-president of the state-owned company told reporters in a media briefing on Thursday. “We will closely monitor the commodity market to buy more coal at reasonable prices.”

He added that maintenance on all its generators had been completed to ensure the safety of their operations during the peak season, which officially starts on Thursday.

The Shanghai Waigaoqiao No 3 Power Generation plant, one of Shenergy’s key assets, has stored 200,000 tonnes of coal. This can support about two weeks of its operations, while the supply of coal for daily operations is normal at present, the vice-president said.

Shenergy generated more than 1,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2022, which represented 17.3 per cent of the city’s total power output from coal-fired plants.