Coal news and updates

Sharp fall seen in Apr-Dec PLF of Indian power plants

Despite higher coal availability, the plant load factor (PLF) of coal-fired Indian power plants that are monitored by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) declined sharply during the first nine months (April-December) of 2015-16.

According to CEA data, the PLF of coal-fired power plants during the period fell to 61.42% from a high of 64.16% during the corresponding period of 2014-15.

Not only coal-fired plants, the PLF of lignite-fired as well as nuclear plants also declined during the period.

While the PLF of lignite-fired plants fell to 68.90% during the first nine months of 2015-16 from 73.66% in 2014-15, that of nuclear plants declined to 72.74% from a high of 79.30% during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

In December 2015, the PLF of coal-fired plants fell to 61.67% from 65.04% in December 2014. Lignite-fired plants’ PLF fell to 64.70% in December this year from a high of 68.44% in the same month of 2014.

The PLF of nuclear-fired plants in December 2015 fell to 68.14% from a high of 72.45% last year.

Source: ICMW