A drought in China hits industry

is heating up between Shanghai and Chengdu. The highest temperatures and lowest rainfall since records began 60 years ago have led to severe power shortages across the south-western province of Sichuan, where Chengdu is located, and in its neighbouring municipality, Chongqing. As a result Sichuan has been forced to curb energy use at thousands of industrial firms. That in turn has threatened the supply of parts to carmakers, such as Tesla in Shanghai. In a recent letter, Shanghainese officials urged the heat-struck region to guarantee supplies to feed their production lines. This has led to an outpouring of anger in Sichuan. The letter, which circulated widely on social media, listed the phone numbers of several officials in Shanghai. Some Sichuanese have taken to texting or calling them to complain about their lack of concern for residents’ well-being, and then sharing the conversations online. “Who is Tesla to you?” complained one resident after their electricity had been shut off for an hour and a half every day.