STORY: Rare heatwaves grill China as its energy, livelihood facilities stand tests
DATELINE: July 6, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:22
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Beijing
2. various of repair teams of the State Grid Beijing Electric Power Company working
3. various of a service station powered by rooftop photovoltaic panels in Nanjing
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHANG KEPING, Operation and maintenance worker, State Grid Nanjing Power Supply Company

STORYLINE:

China has taken a slew of measures to reduce the impact of scorching heatwaves on people's daily life.

China's national observatory on Wednesday issued an orange alert, the second-highest alert, and advised the public to avoid outdoor activities during high-temperature periods.

Since June, many regions in China have logged high temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius, as the meteorological departments continue to issue high-temperature alerts.

According to China's National Climate Center, as of July 2, the number of days with temperatures at or above 35 degrees in China this year had been the highest compared to the same period since 1961.

In southern Beijing, an observatory, for the first time, recorded temperatures above 40 degrees for three consecutive days from June 22 to 24.   

In Beijing, the State Grid Beijing Electric Power Company has put more than 200 repair teams and over 100 power generation vehicles on standby in case of electricity emergencies.

In Xuanwu District of Jiangsu's capital Nanjing, the local government has launched a service station powered by rooftop photovoltaic panels in a scenic spot.

Equipped with air conditioners, medical kits, and water dispensers, the station has become a resting place for tourists and outdoor workers.

The hot weather has given rise to a peak in electricity consumption across China, as the recent maximum load has exceeded 900 million kilowatts.

State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid), the country's major power supplier, has ensured stable power generation, increased power supply from various power sources, and strengthened maintenance of the major power grid and inspection of transmission lines.   

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHANG KEPING, Operation and maintenance worker, State Grid Nanjing Power Supply Company
"We carry out regular UAV inspections of key power facilities, and the cumulative mileage of inspection lines has exceeded 1,800 kilometers. Compared with manual inspection, UAV inspection is more accurate and efficient, and the defect discovery rate is 13 times that of manual inspection, which can effectively help the power grid to sustain the electricity demand peak during the summer."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)