China to start electricity diversion projects

China's National Energy Administration has said they are speeding up electricity diversion projects from the western part of the country to the east.

The diversion will transfer power from western provinces like Shanxi and Inner Mongolia to places like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

This aims to ease the shortage of power and control pollution in these places.

Han Shui is a director under the NEA.

"These 12 channels will add another 70 million gigawatts power to eastern grids. It will complement the demands in Beijing and its neighboring places, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. After the projects are finished, we also see a reduction in the use of coal in these places by 100 million tons per year."

Han adds that construction is already underway for three channels, while the other nine are expected to begin in the coming year.

He also said that they are also working to cut emissions and save energy at thermal power plants in eastern provinces, in a bid to fight air pollution.