Energy supply pinch hits China

Soaring demand for heat has led to energy shortages, as freezing temperatures sweep across most parts of China. Central and northern China are feeling the crunch in natural gas supplies, while regions in the South are trying hard to repair damaged electricity lines.

Heaters have become the must have appliance this winter. The surging demand comes on the heels of a shortage of natural gas in Wuhan.

Mrs. Zhong, resident of Wuhan, Hubei Province, said,"The supply of natural gas is being rationed this winter, we have to find other sources."

The rationing has also led to long queues outside gas stations.

Taxi driver, Wuhan, Hubei Province, said,"I've been waiting for 4 hours. Many gas stations don't have gas."

Low temperatures have also paralysed power supplies in northern parts of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Built-up ice has covered electricity lines stretching for nearly 100 kilometres. Concerns about possible damage to the grid are rising.

For the linemen, that means an 8-hour work day in hazardous conditions. Clearing potential hazards has been the major task to avoid any power cuts. And then there's the possible danger of falling ice debris.

Huang Xianzhong, manager of Yongfu Power Supply Co. Ltd, said,"We need to remove branches from the power lines, then clear the ice from power lines by hand."

Safety is the major concern when working at high positions.

Meanwhile, crews on the ground are searching for ways to clear the ice around the power lines. Similar emergency repairs also took place in the southern city of Ningbo, where dozens of electricity lines have been shut down. Toppled power lines greet linemen in every direction.

Yin Ming, lineman of Ningbo Electricity Bureau, said, "The ice weighs too much and has destroyed almost all the cables."

Local governments are transporting new cables to remote mountainous region to replace damaged ones. But the worst of the bad weather is expected in the next few days.