The cold spell across China has brought freezing temperatures to major cities in the south. It's prompted a surge in power demand and put pressure on fuel supplies.

Wuhan city in Hubei Province has begun suspending production at local factories, to leave enough electricity for household consumption.

More than 1,800 companies will come to a halt for two days each week.

It's the first time in a decade such measures have been taken.

Fu Jianjun, deputy central manager of Wuhan Power Supply Company, said, "Urban residents may not feel any difficulties in power consuming now, but the pressure of shortage is huge. We have been making great efforts to ensure the supply. "

In east China's Anhui Province, 20 power plants have been forced to cut back on their consumption of coal.

Cheng Boru, central manager of Pingwei Power Plant, said, "We use 20,000 tons of coal each day, but now we only have 30,000 tons of coal in our storage. We are constantly in touch with our coal suppliers to maintain the plant's operation."

It's the same situation at the largest power plant in Jiangsu Province.

Chen Xin from fuel department of Wangting Power Plant, said, "Since last October, our coal storage has kept dropping. Now the stock could only last five days."

The plant has sent a team to purchase coal from other provinces, but the bad weather and increasing prices are creating obstacles.

Workers at China's second-largest coal output port in Huanghua, have battled severe weather to ensure coal is delivered where it's needed.

Two ice-breaking ships are escorting bulk carriers. The port is shipping almost a quarter of a million tons of coal everyday.