China Energy's 3 Million Kilowatt Photovoltaic Base, located in Ordos, north China's Inner Mongolia, was successfully connected to the grid on Tuesday, marking the commencement of operation for China's largest solar power facility built on a coal mining subsidence zone.
With a total installed capacity of 3 million kilowatts, the project involved the installation of approximately 5.9 million photovoltaic panels, spanning over 70 million square meters, an area equivalent to 10,000 standard football fields.
This ambitious project has contributed to China's efforts to rehabilitate degraded land and is also a key part of the country's broader energy strategy, contributing to the west-to-east power transmission system that aims to transport electricity from the western regions to the eastern, industrialized parts of the country.
"The project generates 5.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power 2 million households for a year. It saves 1.71 million tons of standard coal and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 4.7 million tons annually," said Dong Weidong, head of the China Energy Inner Mongolia Company.
Yang Yingxin, governor of Otog Front Banner, Inner Mongolia, expressed pride in the construction team's efficiency.
"The construction team completed the 20-month photovoltaic project in just 14 months, achieving full-capacity grid connection. The electricity generated is transmitted through a 1,238-kilometer transmission line, delivering clean energy to Linyi, Shandong. The Blue Ocean Photovoltaic Power Station has also become the largest single-grid-connected new energy project in Inner Mongolia," Yang said.
China starts operation of solar plant built on subsided coal mine
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
