Coal imports by Indian power plants have decreased 22% on the month to 5.151 MnT in Nov’18 compared with 6.606 MnT in Oct’18, but were almost identical on the year against the levels attained in Nov’17.
The abnormal surge in power demand in Oct’18 had lifted the coal requirement at the power plants, which was balanced by a record-growth in imports during the month. At the same time, higher coal consumption had taken its toll on the power plants’ available coal stocks, which had fallen consequently.
As per the data provided by Power Ministry, the available coal stock at power plants had reached to a yearly low of 14.681 MnT at the end of Oct’18.
The monthly decline in imports is in line with a lowered demand for power with the beginning of the winter season. However, the intake was still higher than previously recorded levels seen before Oct’18.
Thriving on the higher imports seen during Oct-Nov’18, power plants’ coal imports have totaled 39.1 MnT in the first 8 months of FY19 (Apr’18-Nov’18), noting a slight gain over the year compared with 38.79 MnT in Apr’17-Nov’17 period.
A plant wise break up of imports indicates that the imported coal received by plants designed on domestic coal as well as those designed on imported coal, had noted a fall during Nov’18.
As per the data provided by Power Ministry, imports by plants designed on domestic coal was down 8% M-o-M to 1.755 MnT in Nov’18, while that by plants designed on imported coal had fell 28% M-o-M to 3.396 MnT.
| Sector | Plants based on Domestic Coal | Plant Based on Imported Coal | |||||
| Nov’18 | Oct’18 | % Change | Sector | Nov’18 | Oct’18 | % Change | |
| Central | 0.2454 | 0.1703 | 44% | Central | – | – | – |
| State | 0.6711 | 0.6265 | 7% | State | 0.162 | 0.1419 | 14% |
| Private | 0.839 | 1.1206 | -25% | Private | 3.2336 | 4.5467 | -29% |
| Total | 1.755 | 1.9174 | -8% | Total | 3.396 | 4.6886 | -28% |
Source: Power Ministry
Quantity in MnT
Among the plants designed to run on domestic coal, imports by central and state based power plants had attained new highs for the FY19, with an increase in their monthly intake. While private sector power plants had recorded a hefty fall of 25% M-o-M to 0.839 MnT in Nov’18.
Private power plants’ , designed to run on imported coal, had also taken lesser coal during Nov’18. State based Sikka plant’s import was up 14% M-o-M to 0.162 MnT.
Adani Power with 1.2568 MnT coal import, was the largest coal receiver in Nov’18. The quantity was taken for its plants’ operations in Mundra and Udupi. Coastal Gujarat Power, JSW Energy, and Semb Corp Gayathri Power were among the other major coal receivers during the month.
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