Toyota, CATL Shut Plants in Sichuan as Power Crisis Worsens

The world’s biggest battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co and Toyota Motor Corp on 17 August announced factory closures as the impact of a drought-induced power crisis in China’s Sichuan province spreads,

Toyota Motor Corp shut a plant in the provincial capital of Chengdu and will keep operations suspended until 20 August, a company spokesperson said. While Contemporary Amperex halted operations at its major lithium battery base in Yibin by the same time.

China’s Sichuan province is highly reliant on hydropower, but the heat wave and drought have pushed up air-conditioning demand and drying up reservoirs behind hydro dams. Sichuan is also a key manufacturing hub and important for the production of materials including polysilicon and lithium that are vital to the energy transition.

Not only Toyota and Contemporary Amperex, but other firms are also facing power shortages. Volkswagen AG on 17 August cited similar reasons, however, said that it was only expecting slight delays in deliveries to customers. Meanwhile, Apple iPads makers Foxconn Technology Co said it was seeing only limited impact from the drought so far.