Hit by relentless extreme temperatures and droughts, Sichuan province is facing a perfect storm. It has simultaneously reached record high temperatures, low rainfall levels, and high-power load.
Sichuan is home to most of China’s hydropower resources, which represent 80 % of the province’s installed power generation capacity. With the current drought, its dams’ output has been reduced by 50% in August. In addition, reservoir and river levels are reaching record lows.
In response, Sichuan Province issued an emergency notice requiring all power users to stop production for 6 days, from the 15th to the 20th of August. Chengdu has turned off all unnecessary public lighting, such as ad screens and downward escalators.
