Coal news and updates

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

India Coal Market Watch

December 30: 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 eight months (April-November) of 2015-16.

According to CEA data, the PLF of coal-fired power plants during the period fell to 61.36% from a high of 64.07% 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 69.42% during the eight months of 2015-16 from 74.32% in 2014-15, that of nuclear plants declined to 73.16% from a high of 80.17% during the corresponding period of previous financial year.

In November, the PLF of coal-fired plants fell to 60.59% from 65.69% in November 2014. Lignite-fired plants’ PLF fell to 54.21% in November this year from a high of 66.42% in the same month of 2014.

The PLF of nuclear-fired plants in November 2015 fell to 67.56% from a high of 73.16% last year.