India: Conventional Power Generation Rebounds in Dec'18

Indian power generation from conventional sources have recorded slight growth on the month after witnessing drastic fall in Nov'18, but the rate of output has remain almost flat m-o-m in Dec'18.

As per the tentative data provided by Power Ministry, total power generation was recorded at 100.542 BU in Dec'18, up 1% M-o-M against 99.78 BU in Nov'18. However, the rate of power output was slightly lower on the month at 3.24 BU/day in Dec'18 against 3.326 BU/day in Nov'18.

The decline on m-o-m basis is mainly on account of winter season leading to subdued demand for power particularly in the Northern and Western states.

Sill, output in Dec'18 maintained its rise on the yearly basis, rising 4% Y-o-Y from 97.02 BU power produced in Dec'17.

Power generation from conventional sources includ

e thermal plants (coal, gas and diesel based), hydro plants, nuclear plants and electricity imported from Bhutan.

A source-wise break-up indicates that thermal plants had produced 89.817 BU in Dec'18, up 2% M-o-M from 88.28 BU in Nov'18, which was also 4% higher on the year from 86.075 BU in Dec'17.

Generation from Hydro sources extended its fall on the month, as it fell 6% M-o-M to 7.685 BU in Dec'18. But, was still 11% higher on the year from 6.898 BU in Dec'17, and has also attained the target set for the month.

Nuclear power generation dropped 25% M-o-M to 2.953 BU in Dec'18, which was also 9% lower on the year compared with 3.959 BU in Dec'17.

Electricity imported from Bhutan fell to its lowest total since Apr'18, was marked at 0.087 BU in Dec'18.

Notably, total electricity imported from Bhutan has decreased 6% Y-o-Y to 4.377 BU in the first 9-months of FY19 (Apr'18-Dec'18), against 4.696 BU marked in the same period of FY18, noting the only y-o-y decline in terms of total power generated from other sources.

India's total power generation from conventional sources had increased 5% Y-o-Y to 949.633 BU in the 9-month period of FY19 compared with 906.638 BU.

Coal Stock at Power Plants:

Coal stock level at the power plants is slowly building up with a subdued demand for power.

As per the data provided by CEA, coal stock at power plants (having linkages) have increased 24% M-o-M to 17.521 MnT as on 7 Jan'19, sufficient for 11 days of power generation.

The number of power plants having critical stocks have also reduced to 8, from 23 recorded a month earlier.