China urges aluminium smelters to diversify away from hydropower

China’s state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, on Friday said it would encourage aluminium smelters in the country to increase their use of non-hydropower forms of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power.

Some Chinese regions have faced electricity shortages in recent months as severe drought hit their availability to generate hydropower, leading to curbs on metal smelters’ power usage.