Since the beginning of this year, China's maximum power load has set a new historical record for four consecutive times, reaching a peak of 1.508 billion kilowatts, an increase of 57 million kilowatts compared with the extreme value of last year, said an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) at a press conference in Beijing on Friday.
In response to the rapidly rising electricity demand, the NDRC has coordinated with local governments and key enterprises to proactively implement a series of effective measures. The national cross-regional power transmission has reached a record high of 148 million kilowatts.
Currently, electricity supply across the country is stable and orderly, effectively meeting the electricity demand in various regions, the official said.
Next, the NDRC will guide localities to ensure the connection between coal production, transportation, and demand, as well as coordinate the use of gas for power generation, in order to ensure a sufficient and stable supply of primary energy.
The NDRC will continue to strengthen the operational management of various conventional power sources, and balance the supporting role of renewable energy generation with the backup role of thermal power. It will also actively engage in inter-provincial and inter-regional power scheduling through long-term electricity contracts, spot markets, and emergency dispatching.
"We're comprehensively applying Time-of-Use rates, subsidies for demand response, and AI dispatching for virtual power plants to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power grid and the orderly supply of electricity. We closely monitor major natural disasters and emergencies, and promptly organize power enterprises to efficiently carry out emergency response and power restoration work to ensure energy supply for people's livelihood and key users," said Jiang Yi, a spokesman of the NDRC.
China's maximum power load sets new historical record
Russia on Friday reported seizing eight cities and towns over the past week, while Ukraine claimed on the same day that its forces had stabilized the situation in the direction of Kupyansk, according to two separate statements released by the two sides.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said in its latest report that over the past week, its forces had controlled eight cities and towns, including Seversk, over the past week in the special military operation zone.
It also said that in response to Ukraine's attacks on the civilian facilities in Russia, the Russian armed forces had launched one large-scale attack and five coordinated attacks from Dec 6 to Dec 12.
The targets included Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises and their associated fuel and energy facilities, transportation infrastructure, and airports and ports used for Ukrainian military operations, as well as temporary deployment points of the Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries.
The National Guard of Ukraine reported advances in the direction of Kupyansk, controlling two settlements and multiple districts in the northern part of the city and cutting off Russia's supply lines to the strategic hub.
It said the situation in the direction of Kupyansk had been stabilized.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Friday that its forces had attacked a Russian oil refinery in the Yaroslavl region, aiming to cut off the Russian military's fuel supply chain.
It also said that on the same day, the Ukrainian forces had launched multiple attacks in the direction of Donetsk, destroying a Russian ammunition depot and hitting a concentration site of Russian personnel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday on X that he had visited the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine.
During the visit, he met with the Ukrainian troops to mark the Land Forces Day and presented state awards to them.
Kupyansk, a key rail and road logistics hub, has seen intense battles since the autumn of 2024. In November this year, the Russian forces claimed that they had captured the city, according to local media reports.
Russia reports seizing settlements as Ukraine claims gains in direction of Kupyansk
