Coal imports by Indian power utilities have increased 41% Y-o-Y to 18.45 MnT during the first quarter of FY20 (Apr’19-Jun’19), following a subdued domestic coal supplies recorded in the period.
Data provided by power ministry indicates that the power plants had imported 13.08 MnT coal in the year-ago quarter period.
On the monthly basis, imported coal receipt by plants had fell below the 6 MnT mark for the first time in FY20, being assessed at 5.705 MnT in Jun’19.
The immediate fall-out of CIL’s flat coal production in the first quarter period has been a decline in coal supplies to thermal power plants. Apparently, total coal supplied (including imports) to the power plants was marked at 165.9 MnT in Q1 FY20. Out of which domestic coal receipt was 147.5 MnT, noting a subtle rise from 146.3 MnT recorded in Q1 FY19.
Interestingly, despite government’s claim to reduce imports, it was the central run-plants led by NTPC, which had witnessed significant growth in imported coal sourcing during Q1 FY20. Besides, resumption of power units at Adani’s Mundra plant had also contributed to the surge in power utilities coal import.
A break-up of imports based on design of power plants shows that utilities importing coal for blending purpose had taken 6.67 MnT coal during Q1 FY20 period, rising 32% Y-o-Y from 5.07 MnT in Q1 FY19. On the other hand, plants designed to run on imported coal had taken 11.78 MnT coal, up 47% Y-o-Y from 8.01 MnT recorded in the corresponding quarter period of FY19.
Sector-wise Coal Imports:
Central-run power plant’s coal sourcing saw an abrupt rise during the quarter period, increasing from a mere 0.03 MnT in Q1 FY19 to 1.11 MnT in Q1 FY20. Imported coal sourcing from NTPC was marked at 0.774 MnT, while the remaining coal was taken by NTPC’s joint venture plant-IGSTPP, located in Haryana.
Coal import by state-sector plants increased 5% Y-o-Y to 2.84 MnT in Q1 FY20.
Bulk of imports was taken by the private sector power plants, whose quarterly receipt surged 40% on the year to 14.5 MnT in Q1 FY20.
Adani power’s Mundra plant with 4.46 MnT coal imports was the largest coal receiver in the quarter period.
| Sector | Plants based on Domestic Coal | Plant Based on Imported Coal | Total Coal Receipt | ||||
| Q1 FY20 | Q1 FY19 | Q1 FY20 | Q1 FY19 | Q1 FY20 | Q1 FY19 | %Change | |
| Central | 1.11 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.11 | 0.03 | 3175% |
| State | 2.49 | 2.33 | 0.35 | 0.38 | 2.84 | 2.71 | 5% |
| Private | 3.06 | 2.71 | 11.43 | 7.63 | 14.50 | 10.34 | 40% |
| Total | 6.67 | 5.07 | 11.78 | 8.01 | 18.45 | 13.08 | 41% |
Source: Power Ministry
Quantity in MnT
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