The Ministry of Railways has urged local railway authorities to prioritise coal transport to alleviate China’s electricity shortage in the lead-up to the peak electricity-consumption period.

Xinhua reported the ministry saying that, while power supply and demand would be in overall balance this summer, some coastal regions may face power shortages.

China’s railways transported 814m tonnes of coal in the first five months of 2010, up 17.9 per cent year-on-year, the ministry said.