China: Power plants have to maintain seven days’ coal stockpile by 21 July

Amid depleting coal stocks at power plants and surging power consumption, coal-fired power plants in China have been ordered to build a minimum of seven days’ coal stockpile by 21 Jul’21. The NDRC has directed power plants in Shanxi and other provinces to store coal for at least 15 days, while those in other regions are required to store for over 20 days. China is dealing with more-than-usual hot weather, which is expected to peak between 14 Jul-22 Aug’21. The average daily coal consumption at key power plants in eight provinces of eastern China has shot up to more than 2.2 mn t-the highest on record. Coal inventory at power plants have fallen to 24.2 mn t, the lowest so far.