India's coal generation slipped 11% YoY in November

Industrial slowdown and prolonged rains caused a decline for the fourth month.

Power generation from coal in India fell for a fourth month by 11% YoY in November. This was the longest such streak in government data going back to 2005. Output in the year to November fell 2.4%, the first ever drop for the 11-month period.

That echoes a decline in consumption because of slowing industrial activity and prolonged rains that pushed up production from hydroelectric dams whilst curbing electricity demand for air conditioning and irrigation.

When demand is down, utilities end up reducing offtake from costlier coal plants, and buy more from other sources such as hydro, renewables and nuclear, said Sambitosh Mohapatra, partner for power and utilities at PricewaterhouseCoopers India.

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