Coal news and updates

Thermal coal stocks at Indian power plants were 15.2 million mt as of Wednesday, up 6% from the previous week, and back above the 15 million mt level after reaching a four-month low of 14.3 million mt last Tuesday, according to data published Friday by the Central Electricity Authority.

 

Indian coal stocks were up 1% month on month, but down 9% year on year, and were enough to support 10 days power generation, up from nine days the previous week, according to the CEA data.

 

The number of plants at critical or supercritical stock levels fell to 14 from 17 the week earlier, and stocks of imported coal recovered to 387,000 mt from 368,000 mt.

 

Indian coal stockpiles have been "perilously low" since mid-2017, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics, dropping below 10 days of inventory through the second half of last year.

 

India's Nabha Power was said to have shut down its 750 MW plant in Punjab last week due to coal shortages.

 

"Unpredictable supply...coupled with lax coal procurement strategies, is hampering stocking activity in India, and also is adding upside to thermal coal import demand," Platts Analytics said Friday.

 

Source: platts