Sichuan TV maker says quake effects short-lived

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese TV and electrical appliance maker Sichuan Changhong Electric Co has resumed production after it incurred damage to factory buildings from this week's earthquake, a newspaper reported on Saturday, citing company officials.

The firm which had temporarily halted production at Mianyang city in Sichuan, said power had been restored at production bases for air conditioners and cell phones, The Shanghai Securities News said.

Changhong's Shanghai-listed shares closed down 4.8 percent at 6.90 yuan on Friday, on concerns over the impact of the earthquake.

Several other firms with operations in Sichuan province have reported damage since Monday's deadly earthquake.

Sichuan Hongda Co, whose shares are still suspended, said on Friday its non-ferrous metals and chemicals plants had been damaged.

And Dongfang Electrical Machinery Co said a gas turbine plant was severely damaged at a unit that accounts for about one-fifth of its turnover. The firm's Hong Kong shares plummeted 14.3 percent to HK$25.70 on Friday.

China has put the disaster's known death toll at over 22,000 but has said it expects it to exceed 50,000. About 4.8 million people have lost their homes and the days are numbered in which survivors can be found.

Construction contractor China Railway Erju Co, whose shares closed down 4.6 percent at 15.25 yuan on Friday, said it has not been affected by the earthquake, the paper reported.

Last month the firm said it would set up a $40.54 million Chengdu-based joint venture with a unit of Lehman Brothers to invest in urban industrial projects.

(Reporting by Joseph Chaney; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)