China is expected to be hit by a cold surge this week with temperatures expected to fall by 15 degrees Celsius, prompting concerns over the country’s electricity supply after the suspension of coal imports from Australia amid the two countries’ recent trade spat.

The Central Meteorological Observatory has warned citizens in Beijing of the significant temperature drop from Monday until Dec. 30, with the highest temperature only expected to reach -5 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature may hit double-digit below zero, the observatory said, with local media describing the freezing weather as “cold enough to doubt life.”

The cold spell will not only hit northern China, but also in the south. Guangdong province is expected to see a significant temperature drop on Dec. 29 as the cold wave travels from north to south, and from inland to coastal regions. The average daytime temperature will be 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, and the lowest temperature in Guangzhou city center is expected to be 4 degrees Celsius.

The heat supply office under the Beijing Municipal Management Committee has already ordered various departments to ensure there will be enough resources to maintain the indoor temperature throughout the cold weather.

The anticipated cold surge in the coming week has sparked concerns over China’s electricity supply, especially following the country’s recent ban on importing Australian coal.

Since the cold weather hit at the beginning of December, the country has produced 11% more electrical power than the same period last year, at a rate 6% faster than last year’s. The maximum daily power load in the first half of this month has already exceeded the summer peak, and the maximum daily power generation is close to summer’s highest record — both of which are historically rare.

The Development and Reform Commission has pledged to ensure that local governments and corporations can maintain the supply of electricity. It has also demanded power plants to store an adequate amount of coal. In extreme cases, there will only be a restrictive use of electricity rather than power outages, the commission said.

The commission also said the supply of coal for power generation was stable, with China’s major coal-producing areas and coal companies in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia set to boost their production capacity under its instructions. An emergency supply of coal is in place along the railways and major ports, and can reach the coastal regions in the southeast and Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces within four days, the commission said.

The cold snap is also set to affect Taiwan, with the cold surge expected to arrive on Wednesday bringing the temperature down by 15 degrees within 24 hours.

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