Coal production increased 7.5% in July, dispatches surge 17.3% on higher power demand

India’s coal production soared 7.5% in July from the comparable period last year while dispatches surged 17.34% amid increased demand for power during the period which saw lower-than-normal monsoons.

Official data indicated that the country’s power consumption grew by about 11% in June compared to the same period last year, reaching 170.7 billion units (BU) as demand for cooling appliances rose.

India produced 69.75 million tonnes (MT) of coal in July, which is higher than the 64.88 MT produced in the same month last year, according to provisional figures provided by the Union Coal Ministry.

Coal dispatches stood at 86.33 MT during the reported period — which is 17.34% higher than 73.57 MT dispatched last year.

In the reported period, Coal India accounted for 50.35 MT of production — which is 8.42% higher on a year-over-year basis whilst it dispatched 63.67 MT of the carbon commodity during the period.