China to Halt Swaths of Manufacturing During Olympics

Feb. 12, 2008
Government is prepared to shut down entire sections of industry during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The Chinese government may halt manufacturing production in several of its host cities during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing to reduce pollution, according to Platts news service. The shutdown is planned to begin 30 days prior to the games' opening ceremonies on Aug. 8.

Government officials have already let major coal-fired power stations, several steel mills and other major polluters know about the planned shutdown, sources told Platts.

The policy could slow China's economic growth. Sources estimate that about 13 gigawatts of electricity production -- almost half the size of Mexico's total production capacity -- will be closed down. Additionally, significant amounts of steel, cement, iron ore and paper-making production will cease.

Without full electricity generation, the country could aggravate an already massive electricity generation deficit. The Chinese government said in January that the gap between electricity demand and supply was already running at more than 69 gigawatts in late January.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!