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by Benjamin Sand

Online Stock Market Trading China's national power agency is warning coal and electricity shortages could make for a long cold winter for tens of millions of people in the developed east.If you would like to receive late breaking news on stocks covered by AXcess News then you need to subscribe. By joining, you can stay ahead of the pack and receive the latest news in your email in-box first.Print This Page

Small businesses have been urged to introduce plans to deal with the possible disruption to energy supplies this winter. Leading industry bodies, such as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), are concerned that with the Met Office predicting the coldest winter in a decade and the shortage of crude oil, small firms may experience an energy shortage this winter.

Stock Investing Course Nov 15, 2004 (AXcess News) Hong Kong - China's national power agency is warning coal and electricity shortages could make for a long cold winter for tens of millions of people in the developed east. The government is considering raising electric rates again this year as a means to avert a power crisis, which could hit in just a few weeks.

National Grid has moved to assure energy consumers that no blackouts are on the cards for this winter, hyped possibility of shortages.

Stock Market Game Despite frantic efforts to meet demand, China's State-run media say that national energy supplies will be overwhelmed by local needs in the coming cold weather months.

We prefer seeing northern China during September and October and southern China and Hong Kong in November and December. China's climate is one of extremes—hot summers in most parts of the country, bitter winters in the north and comfortable winters in the south. Winters in China can feel colder because the heating is never quite right (either too cold or too hot), but gloriously thick quilts and thermoses of hot water are provided everywhere, even in cheaper hotels and on trains. Spring rains can make southern cities (especially Guilin and Guangzhou) dreadfully humid. Sandstorms can be a problem in the north (including Beijing) in April. Tibet can be bitter cold, even in the autumn and late spring. If you don't take enough warm clothing in the winter, weather gear in most areas of China (though stocks are limited in Tibet).

Stock Investing Game The China Daily newspaper Monday quoted sections of a new report from the National Power Regulatory Commission. The report notes rising demand throughout the country but says heavily populated eastern China faces the greatest energy shortages.

Climate China`s enormous size means that it has a great range of climatic conditions Northern China; in the far north, summers are cooler than the rest of Northern China, which are generally humid and wet. Winters are very cold, temperatures are low enough to freeze waterways for several months. In the northeast, which includes Beijing, summers are warm to hot, winters cold with frost and occasional snow

Journal Prime Rate Street Wall Larry Chow, director of energy studies at Hong Kong's Baptist University, says Shanghai will almost certainly face severe power cuts this winter with significant fallout.

Northwest China; this area is mostly desert with little rain. Summers are very hot and winters extremely cold, made worse by bitter icy winds Central China; is generally warmer than the north with rain spread throughout the year. Summer months are wettest which can make conditions humid and unpleasant, during this time ( Oct), along the coast, typhoons can occur. Winters are changeable with periods of cloud and rain or cold and frosty with occasional snow

Stock Market News "Definitely they will be cutting off the power on a rotational basis in Shanghai this winter, that's for sure," he said.

Stock Investing Basics In Beijing, where winter temperatures routinely drop far below freezing, the government admits it only has about half the coal supplies it needs to meet local heating demands.AdvertisementThe government report says Beijing's centralized heating system should start running as scheduled on Monday but delays elsewhere in the country are likely. Even limited delays in some cities could mean at least 200 million people will not get heat during the early winter months.Professor Chow says the power shortages will also seriously weaken eastern China's industrial network."For some of the factories, even if they close down two days a week that means there is a loss of production for two days, so definitely that's going to effect the economy," said Professor Chow.

Stock Investing Software But that might be a mixed blessing for Beijing, which is trying to slow the country's overheating economy.While per capita energy use remains low compared to most Western countries, China's enormous population means even a slight increase in demand locally translates into a massive surge nationwide.

Stock Market Trading China's energy production is rising but cannot keep pace with demand. New hydroelectric projects, nuclear power plants and oil pipelines are expected to narrow that gap in the future. For now, most of China depends on coal for energy, which is less efficient and hard to transport.

Stock Investing For Dummy The China Daily says the government is considering a third rate increase for electricity. Most power plants are not operating at full capacity, say analysts, because the price of coal is rising while the price of electricity is still below market value.

Stock Market Crash Government officials say the current energy shortage could last for another two years.

Stock Investing Tip Source: Voice of America

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