Chuncheng Wanbao (Kunming Evening News)
August 19, 2006

Power output from the Manwan and Dachaoshan dams in Yunnan province is down to half the normal level as the Lancang River basin suffers its worst drought in 50 years.

 Due to the rainfall drop during the flood season, Lancang River basin has suffered from the most serious drought for the past 50 years, which leads to the reduced output from hydropower stations, and therefore the coal fired power plants are all overloaded. The overall daily power output can only be maintained at 152 million kWh. Under the continuous drought and high temperature, the power demand is increasing. In August, the Yunnan’s power supply has broken the record high for six times. The daily power shortfall is as high as 40 million kWh. Since July, the Lancang river’s run-off was reduced. There were 13 days that the water diversion for Manwan dam was below the minimum.

 In August, the water diversion of hydropower plants were below the minimum and is further decreasing. The current run-off has been the record low since 1953. This has directly led to the substantial reduction in the power output from both Manwan and Dachaoshan dams. They can only maintain the output of 30 million kWh, which is only 50% of the normal level. In addition, due to the lack of rainfall, the daily output from the Yunnan’s small hydro has also reduced by 10 million kWh. Since then, some coal-fired power plants have postponed their maintenance schedules, which led to the peak-load operation for longer period of time and reduced the stability of some generating turbines. On 14 August, the No. 1 turbine of the second Kunming thermal power plant stopped operation for inspection. On 16 August, the No. 2 turbine of the eastern Kunming thermal power plant suffered from leakage in over-heating control… Currently among the 5,935 MW of coal-fired power plants in Yunnan power grid, 800 MW of which now undergoes normal inspection, and the other 1,100 MW of which is now unexpectedly stopped. Therefore Yunnan Power Grid Company had to reduce the outward power transfer and reduce the supply. Since 15 August, Yunnan power grid has started to reduce the daily output by 5.4 million kWh. It is expected that Lancang river basin will undergo drought for some time. Yunnan Power Grid Company is now closely monitoring the rainfall in upstream Lancang River, and enhances the work in rainfall forecast. Once the river run-off is increased, they will start the full-load operation in both Manwan and Dachaoshan hydropower stations. The company will also urge the power companies to enhance the equipment management and maintenance work, and reduce the inspection time.