Coal news and updates

US coal stockpiles at 167.9 million st, up 28.4% from a year ago: Bentek

US coal stockpiles totaled an estimated 167.9 million st for the week ended May 7, up 1.8% from the prior week and up 28.4% from a year ago, Platts unit Bentek Energy said Friday.

Utility coal consumption totaled 13.2 million st, down 2% from the prior week as every region declined except the Southeast. Year to date, coal consumption is down 7% from 2014, Bentek said.

Coal production, meanwhile, increased nearly 1 million st to 18.1 million st during the week, a 6% gain. On a year-to-date basis, coal production is still down 5%, Bentek said.

The Powder River Basin, Illinois Basin and Central Appalachia increased production by 9%, 7% and 6%, respectively, while the NAPP region saw its production drop 1%, Bentek said.

source: www.rappler.com