Construction has commenced on the biggest power plant in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region . The first phase of the 50,000-kilowatt Hetian Natural Gas Power Station is expected to start operation in October 2001. China National Petroleum Corp. compiled the strategy for exploring the gas field and establishing a natural gas-based power plant in Hetian. Electricity has not reached many rural areas in the Hetian region. Where electricity is available, farmers are reluctant to use it, as the rates are too high.
Most farmers still use kerosene lamps and burn wood for fuel, which exacerbates pollution.
Hetian also suffers from a profound lack of water. Farmland irrigation in Hetian depends on water pumped from underground wells by motor. However, due to the short supply of electricity, the existing 2,000 motor-pumped wells cannot operate regularly, which directly impacts agricultural production and farmers incomes.