China's power supply is struggling as winter temperatures plunge. Is the ban on Australian coal to blame? FriFriday 18 As China's winter temperatures plummet, the country's electricity grid has faced considerable strain. ( Print text only Cancel In China, the prospect of resource scarcity is largely thought to be a thing of the past. Key points: Authorities say this is partly due to unseasonably cold weather and coal shortages This comes as China has significantly restricted Australian coal imports But this month, power outages have returned to some parts of the country, conjuring memories of China's old command economy, where resource rationing was a part of daily life.