China Shenhua Energy plans to increase its gross power generation capacity 14.8 per cent by year-end, compared with the level at the end of June, as plants ordered during energy shortages more than two years ago come on stream amid surging power demand.
The listed subsidiary of Shenhua Group, the mainland's largest coal producer, planned to start up 1,860 megawatts (MW) of new coal-fired plants in the second half after commissioning 600 MW of generators in the first half, said company secretary Huang Qing.
The company had 11,960 MW of gross installed capacity in 11 powwer plants at the end of last year, and it planned to raise this to 14,420 MW by the end of the year.
Some plants, such as those in Shenmu, Jinjie and Zhunge'er, are at the company's coal mines straddling Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Shaanxi province.
The integrated nature of the company's business, encompassing coal, power and transportation, has lowered volatility of profits amid fluctuating coal prices and reduced its reliance on the government's underdeveloped railway system.
Calculated by equity, China Shenhua had net capacity of 6,993 MW at the end of last year, more than double from 3,075 MW at the end of 2004, and ranking it the fifth-largest mainland power producer listed in Hong Kong.
