Indian power plant’s coal imports have fallen 10% M-o-M to 4.339 MnT in Jan’18, according to the data provided by Central Electricity Authority (CEA). Power utilities had imported 4.827 MnT coal in Dec’17.
Coal imports by the power sector have been declining with the increase in domestic coal availability. As per the data provided, power plants had acquired 43.645 MnT coal in Jan’18 from domestic miners CIL and SCCL, which was the highest monthly total during the Apr’17-Jan’18 period.
Coastal Gujarat Power (CGPL), Adani Power (Mundra), Semb Corp Gayathri Power, IL & FS power and JSW Energy were the major coal receivers during the month.
Plant-wise Break-up of Coal Imports:
Out of the total coal imported during the month, power plants which run on domestic coal acquired 1.343 MnT coal for blending purpose, while plants based on imported coal had acquired 2.996 MnT.
Although imported coal intake by the power plants, which uses it for blending and which are wholly dependent on it, was decreased in Jan’18. However, imports by state run power plants had particularly increased during the month.
State sector plants using imported coal for blending purpose had received 0.303 MnT coal in Jan’18, which was 135% more than the previous month’s total of 0.129 MnT. Also, Sikka power plants of Gujarat Electricity board (GSECL) had acquired 0.113 MnT coal for its 500 MW power unit, up 16% M-o-M from 0.097 MnT in Dec’17.
India’s largest power producer-NTPC was the lone coal importer in the central sector, which along with the private sector plants had witnessed drop in coal imports during the month.
| Sector | Plants based on Domestic fuel | Plants based on Imported Coal | ||||
| Jan’18 | Dec’17 | M-o-M | Jan’18 | Dec’17 | M-o-M | |
| Central | 0.024 | 0.037 | -35% | – | – | – |
| State | 0.303 | 0.129 | 135% | 0.113 | 0.097 | 16% |
| Private | 1.016 | 1.539 | -34% | 2.883 | 3.025 | -5% |
| Total | 1.343 | 1.705 | -21% | 2.996 | 3.122 | -4% |
Source: CEA
Quantity in MnT
Coal Stock at Power Plants:
Coal stock at Indian power plants had been improved and was marked at 15.387 MnT as on 15 Feb’18, due to higher coal dispatch by CIL. Still, 21 plants were reported to have critical stock level, which justify the fact that the restocking demand for coal would keep the demand firm from the power sector.
Moreover, on account of the fall in hydro power generation, Coal consumption by the power plants had rose 5% M-o-M to 53.255 MnT in Jan’18 as per the data provided by CEA, which would provide additional support to the demand.
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