Guangdong, China's industrial powerhouse, has instructed local power companies to rebuild coal inventories and cut gas consumption while accelerating nuclear plant construction. This directive follows disruptions in Middle Eastern gas supplies caused by the Iran conflict, forcing China to pivot away from imported LNG. The move underscores growing energy security concerns for the world's second-largest economy, which previously relied heavily on cheap Iranian gas. Guangdong's power producers must now secure alternative coal supplies and fast-track nuclear projects to compensate for reduced gas availability.

This strategic shift has immediate market implications, potentially boosting coal prices and straining global LNG markets as China seeks replacements for lost Iranian imports. The directive signals a broader reassessment of energy dependencies within China's industrial sector.