The All-India thermal plant load factor (PLF) fell to 51% in August 2019 (August 2018: 55.5%), due to decrease in central, state and private sector PLF by 700bp, 70bp and 80bp, respectively.
All-India energy demand and supply decreased 1.6% yoy and 1.3% yoy in August 2019, respectively, resulting in a decline in energy deficit to 0.2% (August 2018: 0.6%). The steep decrease in central sector PLF was majorly due to decrease in PLF of NTPC Limited (‘IND AAA’/Stable) on account of coal shortage at its Talcher plant.
The coal inventory at thermal power stations rose 46.8% yoy to 21.6 mt in August 2019, however, declined 11.1% mom due to lower coal production, according to India Ratings.
