Mumbai: Plant load factor of thermal power units declined to 47.9% in May from 63.6% a year ago on account of lower demand. However, demand in May picked up marginally from April as the country began to emerge from one of the word’s strictest lockdown.
India’s energy demand declined 14.9% year-on-year to 102.7 billion units in May, as per public data. The covid-19 led lockdown led to a decline in commercial and industrial demand from major manufacturing states such as Maharashtra (down 11.3%), Gujarat (down 13.5%) and Tamil Nadu (down 15.1%).
The decline in power demand narrowed in May from 22.3% in April due to the gradual lifting of lockdown for certain economic activities, rise in domestic consumption with the peak summer season and increase in agricultural usage due to the onset of sowing season, a report from credit ratings agency India Ratings and Research said.
