| Subject: China: energy crissis |
Author:
Betty
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Date Posted: 20:12:20 09/26/04 Sun
In reply to:
Betty
's message, "Modern nuclear power:Cure for global warming & mid-east war?" on 19:45:47 09/26/04 Sun
Energy shortage may dim China's economic boom
CTV.ca News Staff
China is basking in the glow of booming success, but while the future looks bright no one's sure for how long -- because of urgent energy concerns.
In places like Shanghai which is home to just under 17 million people, the entire city basks at night in a dazzling display of brilliant, new-found wealth.
"But the lights also signal a looming crisis for this nation," says CTV reporter Steve Chao in Shanghai.
In the march to modernize, the demand for electricity in China is overwhelming.
"The system is overstretched," says Chao.
Millions of new energy users are tapping in to the electricity system each day, enjoying their new-found wealth.
Chao says the surging use is coming from homes and factories. Many people are reveling in new comforts that technology brings.
"When we were young life was so tough, we didn't have such things as electricity or air conditioning," homeowner Zhao Guo Yu told CTV News.
"We used hand fans to keep us cool. Now we have it all."
But will people "have it all" for long if current trends continue?
Brownouts have been rolling across the country in recent months. To conserve energy, Chinese officials have ordered thousands of factories to shut down, or to operate in non-peak hours.
And that's not all. It will soon be illegal for people and businesses to overuse electricity.
"In Shanghai's famous tourist district, its already lights out -- at 11 p.m. sharp," says Chao.
But even with all these drastic moves, it's not enough.
Just to keep the lights on in China, officials estimate they need to increase capacity by 500 gigawatts. That's five times what Canada is able to produce in one year.
In one move that's made headlines around the world, China built the Three Gorges Dam on the central Yangtze River.
The vast hydro-electric project that forced the re-location of an estimated 1.3 million people. But Chinese leaders say the dam will generate much-needed electricity in China's interior, as well as control chronic flooding in the region.
Another part of the solution could lie in nuclear power.
Chao says a good example is the Qinshan power facility near Shanghai, which has a big Canadian connection. Eight years ago, Canada signed a deal that gave China a $15-million loan to build Candu reactors in Qinshan.
And recently, Canada's natural resources minister, John Efford, toured the site to promote development.
"Day to day things are improving," Efford told CTV News during a visit to Qinshan. "So I think yes, China will be moving forward. And we will be there to work with them."
China also plans to build at least 30 more power plants -- to help meet ever-growing demand.
But for now the country is waiting for those new plants to come on-line and help alleviate any energy shortages.
In the meantime, Chao says, a pressing problem for authorities is changing how people think -- especially young people.
"Convincing the new generation of Chinese to save energy will also be crucial," says Chao.
But he says some people worry that it won't be easy.
"The young generation are spoiled," homeowner Zhao told CTV News.
"They don't understand what it means to save and sacrifice."
It's a message some Chinese may have to learn anew, amid the bright lights and power-hungry ways of modern life in their country today.
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