The China Southern Power Grid is expected to face a power shortage of 3 billion kwh in the three months ending September, the China News Service quoted a power grid official as saying.

With scorching Summer approaching, almost all provinces in south China witness higher demands for power, the official said at an emergent meeting on power supply.

The maximum capacity of the power grid for upcoming Summer will be 51.7 million kw., which is far from expected demand.

Possible accidental failure of key hydropower stations, insufficient coal supply and price hike of crude oil may further expand the gap. But, completion of a project to transmit electricity from western to eastern regions will help ease the shortage, according to the power grid.

Last year, 24 out of China's 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions imposed power brownouts as power demand soared in summer.

Source: Xinhua