ID :
201739
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 22:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/201739
The shortlink copeid
Fears growing over possible resumption of power shortages+
TOKYO, Aug. 16 Kyodo -
Concern has reemerged over possible electricity shortages in many parts of Japan as offices and plants reopen on Wednesday after the ''Bon'' summer holidays, power industry officials said Tuesday.
Power demand peaked thus far this year in all service areas of nine power companies, except Okinawa, on three days from Aug. 9. In the areas served by Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Tohoku Electric Power Co., demand reached 89.6 and 95.6 percent respectively of the two utilities' supply capacity.
Demand eased moderately since last Friday due to the Bon holiday season, during which many Japanese factories and offices shut down.
On Tuesday, however, Kansai Electric said it may struggle to meet demand on Wednesday after a turbine failure caused a 400,000-kilowatt thermal plant to shut down Sunday and a nuclear reactor was halted because of a problem with its emergency cooling system.
Kansai Electric earlier forecast that demand for power would reach 95 to 97 percent of its capacity on Wednesday and Thursday. But the utility later cut the figure to 92 percent for Wednesday after weather forecasters slightly lowered that day's predicted high temperature.
Tohoku Electric Power Co. also keeps struggling to meet demand as its supply capacity has dropped by 1 million kilowatts in the aftermath of torrential rain in Niigata and Fukushima prefectures in late July that damaged its 28 hydraulic power plants and one pumped-storage hydroelectric power station.
Tohoku Electric continues to receive a supply of 2.06 million kw from Tokyo Electric, up from an earlier 1.4 million kw.
No optimism is warranted even for power companies supporting other utilities by supplying electricity to them. For example, one nuclear reactor will be suspended at Hokkaido Electric Power Co. from late August, and a reactor at Shikoku Electric Power Co. will be suspended on Sept. 4, both for regular inspections.
Tokyo Electric has almost attained its goal of increasing its electricity supply capacity to 56.10 million kilowatts by the end of August by boosting thermal generation to make up for shortages caused by crippled nuclear plants.
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts that temperatures will be unusually high in early September in areas east of the Tokai and Hokuriku regions, stimulating demand for electricity to run air conditions.
With two more reactors, in addition to those of Hokkaido Electric and Shikoku Electric, due to be shut down for regular checkups this summer, utilities will continue walking a tightrope to meet demand for power.
Concern has reemerged over possible electricity shortages in many parts of Japan as offices and plants reopen on Wednesday after the ''Bon'' summer holidays, power industry officials said Tuesday.
Power demand peaked thus far this year in all service areas of nine power companies, except Okinawa, on three days from Aug. 9. In the areas served by Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Tohoku Electric Power Co., demand reached 89.6 and 95.6 percent respectively of the two utilities' supply capacity.
Demand eased moderately since last Friday due to the Bon holiday season, during which many Japanese factories and offices shut down.
On Tuesday, however, Kansai Electric said it may struggle to meet demand on Wednesday after a turbine failure caused a 400,000-kilowatt thermal plant to shut down Sunday and a nuclear reactor was halted because of a problem with its emergency cooling system.
Kansai Electric earlier forecast that demand for power would reach 95 to 97 percent of its capacity on Wednesday and Thursday. But the utility later cut the figure to 92 percent for Wednesday after weather forecasters slightly lowered that day's predicted high temperature.
Tohoku Electric Power Co. also keeps struggling to meet demand as its supply capacity has dropped by 1 million kilowatts in the aftermath of torrential rain in Niigata and Fukushima prefectures in late July that damaged its 28 hydraulic power plants and one pumped-storage hydroelectric power station.
Tohoku Electric continues to receive a supply of 2.06 million kw from Tokyo Electric, up from an earlier 1.4 million kw.
No optimism is warranted even for power companies supporting other utilities by supplying electricity to them. For example, one nuclear reactor will be suspended at Hokkaido Electric Power Co. from late August, and a reactor at Shikoku Electric Power Co. will be suspended on Sept. 4, both for regular inspections.
Tokyo Electric has almost attained its goal of increasing its electricity supply capacity to 56.10 million kilowatts by the end of August by boosting thermal generation to make up for shortages caused by crippled nuclear plants.
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts that temperatures will be unusually high in early September in areas east of the Tokai and Hokuriku regions, stimulating demand for electricity to run air conditions.
With two more reactors, in addition to those of Hokkaido Electric and Shikoku Electric, due to be shut down for regular checkups this summer, utilities will continue walking a tightrope to meet demand for power.
