The meeting noted
The meeting noted that safeguarding energy supply and the basic living conditions of the people through this winter and next spring is the most urgent livelihood task at present. All relevant bodies must tighten accountability and plan ahead so that coal, natural gas and electricity are supplied steadily and in an orderly way, and so that urban and rural residents can spend the winter in warmth.
The meeting stressed
The meeting stressed the need to balance energy security against the green and low-carbon transition. Advanced capacity should be brought on stream provided safety is assured, clean-heating retrofits in the northern divisions should be accelerated, and wind, solar and other new energy sources should continue to be connected to the grid and absorbed — without relaxing energy-consumption or environmental constraints in the name of security of supply.
The meeting required
The meeting required the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Energy to disburse the special winter energy fund without delay, favouring the divisions under the greatest heating pressure; the Ministry of Transport and Communications to keep power-coal transport corridors clear; and every provincial-level division to complete heating-equipment maintenance and emergency coal stockpiling by the end of October.
Background
According to an earlier bulletin from the Ministry of Industry and Energy, energy supply and demand are broadly balanced this year, but the elevated probability of severe cold weather means some areas may still struggle to meet peak demand. The meeting also considered other matters.