Japan's power demand hit by coronavirus outbreak: industry head
TOKYO -
Japan's power demand has been hit by a slowdown in industrial activity due to the coronavirus outbreak, Japanese utilities federation's head said on Friday, without giving specific figures.
"We are closely watching development of the pandemic as further reduction in corporate and economic activities would lead to serious impacts," Satoru Katsuno, the chairman of Japan's federation of electric utilities and president of Chubu Electric Power Co Inc, told a news conference.
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BEIJING - China plans to slash coal-fired power capacity at its five biggest utilities by as much as a third in two years by merging their assets, according to a document seen by Reuters and four sources with knowledge of the matter.
The move to shed older and less-efficient capacity is being driven by pressure to cut heavy debt levels at the utilities. China, is, however, building more coal-fired power plants and approving dozens of new mines to bolster a slowing economy.
The five utilities, which are controlled by the central government, accounted for around 44% of China’s total coal-fired power capacity…
