China’s Industrial Hub Eyes Coal, Nuclear As Iran War Upends Gas

China’s southern industrial hub of Guangdong has asked local power producers to rebuild coal stockpiles, curb the use of gas and accelerate the addition of nuclear generation, in a sign that even the world’s second-largest economy is beginning to feel the impact of war in the Middle East.

The country’s top energy-consuming region — particularly exposed to global market turbulence due to its heavy reliance on imports and to dry weather, given its use of hydropower — has asked grid operators to actively prepare for the summer peak in demand, according to people with knowledge of the matter.