July power shortfall for China's State Grid 16 GW

BEIJING, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Power shortages across China's State Grid Corp network reached a peak in mid-July of 16.15 gigawatts (GW), well above previous government forecasts for the entire nation, the official Xinhua agency said on Wednesday.

By August 5, coal stocks at 219 plants connected to the grid had fallen below the level needed to guarantee seven days of generation, affecting a total 180 GW of installed capacity -- or around a quarter of China's total, the report added.

But the coal stock checks were only carried out at 541 plants under State Grid's remit, suggesting that the supply crisis could be even more extensive if problems were checked elsewhere.

Power shortages in coastal Shandong province reached a peak of 10.22 gigawatts (GW) in late July, or nearly one-third of total provincial demand.

China regards coal stocks only meeting 7 days' generation as a critical level.

The world's second-largest electricity market is grappling with spreading power shortages that are set to rival or even top the 40 GW shortfall seen in 2004, as generators either can't secure coal due to insufficient supply or can't afford surging market prices. (Reporting by Emma Graham-Harrison)