Huaneng move shows way for power big bang | SCMP

Huaneng Power International - China's largest listed independent power producer (IPP) - will buy stakes in two power plants from its parent firm, suggesting a two-year ban on state asset sales in the sector has been relaxed.

The move comes a day after the future shape of the country's power industry was leaked to mainland media. The report detailed the distribution of state power generation assets within a newly created group of nationwide mega-firms.

The freeze on state power asset sales was intended to prevent chaos brought about by ownership transfers the industry shake-up demanded. Its relaxation signifies a gathering pace of reform that will see state-owned power generation assets divided between five power groups and the emergence of two power transmission groups. more