Coal news and updates

Feb coal stocks at CEA-monitored plants up 23.6%

April 9: The stocks of coal lying with a total 126 power plants in the country that are monitored on a regular basis by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), rose 23.66% to 23.243 million tons (mt) on the last day of February 2015 as compared to 18.796 mt on the last day of January 2015.

However, the number of power plants monitored stood at 126 in February as compared to 124 in January, the data revealed.

Higher production by Coal India Ltd (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) and improved availability of rakes for supply of such coal were mainly attributed to the improvement in coal stocks at power plants.

The increase in stock levels took place despite a steady fall in the receipt of imported coal by all the 126 plants monitored by the CEA to 6.410 mt in February from 8.281 mt in January and about 9 mt in December, the data revealed.

According to the data compiled by the CEA, the stocks of coal as at the end of February were worth 13 days as compared to 10 days as at the end of January and 9 days as at the end of December.

The compilation also revealed that coal stocks at the plants in three regions – north, west and east – rose in February as compared to January with the maximum increase being reported from the western region. The southern region, however, saw a marginal drop in coal stocks at plants during the month under review.

For 33 plants in the northern region, the stocks of coal stood at 5.513 mt and were equivalent to 12 days’ worth as at the end of February as compared to 3.944 mt and equivalent to 10 days’ as at the end of January.

In the western region, the stocks at the end of February rose maximum and stood at 7.886 mt (12 days) as compared to 6.223 mt (10 days) at the end of January. However, the number of power plants monitored stood at 42 in February as compared to 41 in January, the data revealed.

For 19 plants in the southern region, the stocks stood at 3.461 mt (12 days) at the end of February, slightly down from 3.551 mt (14 days) at the end of January.

In the east, the number of plants monitored in February by the CEA rose to 32 in February from 31 in January, while the stocks rose to 6.383 mt (19 days) from 5.078 mt (17 days) at the end of January.