The severe drought along the Yangtze River is reducing electricity output at major dams in the region, including the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydropower project.

According to Hubei water resources bureau, water levels at about 1,392 reservoirs in Hubei province have been too low to operate, and the water level of the Three Gorges Dam fell below 156 metres, the required level for full power generation.

According to Central China Grid Co under the State Grid, the country will be stretched to meet electricity demand in central China this summer. Statistics from the National Development and Reform Commission showed the electricity output of most major hydropower stations in Hubei decreased sharply in April, except at the Three Gorges and Gezhou dams.

Officials in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, held an emergency conference on 13 May to encourage its residents to save energy because of the power shortages. Since March, limited electricity supply plans such as power cuts have been carried out in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hebei, Hubei, Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces to relieve pressure on the energy supply.