The SGC covers 541 coal-fired power plants with a total installed capacity of 416 GW, which could be a major factor in the shortage of coal and power supplies; however, the current power-coal-stockpile situation is slightly better than it was in the beginning of the year. The provinces of Shanxi, Shandong, Liaoning, Hebei, Hunan and Shaanxi are facing the majority of the power-coal shortage.
China is working to ensure a secure power supply during the summer Olympics in Beijing, and the stockpiles for plants in the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan region have been increasing.
"The major reason for the situation is that there is neither a complete benefit chain between the supply, transportation and procurement of power coal, nor an authority in charge to coordinate with various aspects of the industrial chain," the SGC said.