China Cuts Power to Factories, Homes as Reservoirs Fall

China Cuts Power to Factories, Homes as Reservoirs Fall
A dried riverbed is exposed after the water level dropped in the Yangtze River in Yunyang county in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, on Aug. 16, 2022. Chinatopix Via AP
The Associated Press
Updated:

BEIJING—Factories in China’s southwest have shut down and a city imposed rolling blackouts after reservoirs to generate hydropower ran low in a worsening drought, adding to economic strains.

Companies in Sichuan province including makers of solar panels, cement, and urea closed or reduced production after they were ordered to ration power for up to five days, according to news reports Wednesday. That came after reservoir levels fell and power demand for air conditioning surged in scorching temperatures.