Beijing: The Transport Ministry has ordered seaports to suspend loading coal for export amid mounting power shortages in China, the official Shanghai Daily reported.
The newspaper said the severe winter, which has seen the greatest volume of snowfall in decades in some provinces, has led to coal transport bottlenecks, leaving many utilities in short supply of fuel .
Ocean shippers have also been ordered by the ministry to divert their exports of coal to meet domestic requirements, while railways have been told to make make hauling coal and food a priority over the coming weeks.
It warned of "severe" consequences for failing to comply with the order, which will remain in effect through the Lunar New Year holiday in February.
On Wednesday, China's economic planning agency ordered the country's utilities and coal suppliers to coordinate their efforts to avert power shortages that have forced more than a dozen provinces to ration electricity. [28/01/08]
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