By staff reporter Li Qiyan

(Caijing.com.cn) China's power output in mid-June rose 3.8 percent year-on-year, the first rise for any measured period since April, according to data from the State Grid Distribution Center.

Power output in the first 10 days of June fell 0.2 percent from a year earlier, narrowing from a 3.5 percent decline in May.

The rise was due to increased use of air conditioners driven by unusually high early summer temperatures, an analyst with the distribution center told Caijing on June 23.

Power output in eastern and southern coastal areas rebounded sharply, with production up 12.3 percent in the export manufacturing hub of Guangdong province.Power production in Jiangsu and Zhejiang province was up 2.6 and 9.6 percent respectively.

However, power output in the coal mining centers of Shanxi province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region remained weak, falling 2.4 and 6.1 percent respectively.With steel and alumina production increasing, both power output and consumption will turn around and register year-on-year gains in the second half, the analyst said.

Power consumption in the first five months fell around 4 percent from a year earlier, according to the National Energy Administration. However, the China Electricity Council said earlier demand is expected to rebound in the second half with consumption seen rising 5 percent for the full year.

Full article in Chinese:http://www.caijing.com.cn/2009-06-23/110188288.html