According to the data provided by CEA, Indian power plants’ coal import has fell 15% Y-o-Y to 56.412 MnT in FY18 (Apr’17-Mar’18) against 66.055 MnT in FY17.
Demand for imported coal had been reduced as a result of the rising coal production in the country. However, the coal ministry had specified that the power plants designed on imported coal would have to import coal for their operations.
Consequently, the power plants designed on imported coal had acquired the major portion of the total coal imports in FY18. Imports by plants designed on imported coal stood 39.369 MnT in FY18, while the remaining 17.043 MnT coal was taken by power plants designed on domestic coal for blending purpose.
On the monthly basis, Coal import had recovered in Mar’18, since declining for the past 4-months, as the coal consumption at the power plants had substantially increased due to the commencement of summer season in the country.
Coal imports stood 4.396 MnT in Mar’18, up 8% M-o-M from 4.06 MnT in Feb’18. While the corresponding coal consumption during the month was 55.515 MnT, 15% higher than 48.129 MnT in Feb’18. Indian power plants had reported coal stock of 21.324 MnT, at the end of Mar’18.
Source: CEA | Quantity in MnT
Plant-wise Break-up of Coal Imports:
Private sector power plants had taken 90% of the total coal imports in FY18. Private plants (both using domestic and imported coal) import was 51.119 MnT.
State sector plants had procured 4.24 MnT imported coal in FY18, out of which 1.325 MnT coal was alone taken by GSECL’s imported coal based Sikka power plant, while the remaining quantity was taken for blending purpose. Central based power plants had imported 1.053 MnT coal, for the sole purpose of blending.
Among the individual plants, Coastal Gujarat Power was the largest imported coal receiver in FY18, followed by Adani Power (Mundra), Semb Corp Gayathri Power, JSW Energy and IL & FS power plant.
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