Power generation in the country decreased by 2 percent year-on-year (YoY) to 8,313 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in January 2024, while it remained unchanged at 77,200 GWh in the first seven months of FY24 compared to the same period last year.
On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, power generation in the country increased by 9 percent from 7,626 GWh recorded in December 2023.
Meanwhile, the cost of fuel for power generation has risen by 23 percent YoY to an average of Rs. 13.8 per unit in January 2024. Major contributors in January 2024 were Coal (23.4 percent), Nuclear (20.8 percent), RLNG (18.2 percent), and Gas (12.4 percent).
Hydel power generation increased by 11 percent YoY from 800 GWh in January 2023 to 924 GWh in January 2024. On an MoM basis, hydel generation decreased by 5 percent. For the period July-January FY24, it increased by 10 percent YoY.
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Coal-based power generation decreased by 20 percent YoY to 1,949 GWh in January 2024 from 2,444 GWh last year. On an MoM basis, coal-based power output increased by 15 percent in January from 1,694 GWh in the previous month.
Nuclear power generation decreased by 8 percent YoY to 1,728 GWh in January 2024, down from 1,876 GWh last year, while monthly nuclear power generation increased by 18 percent from 1,464 GWh observed the previous month.
RLNG-based power generation increased by 18 percent YoY to 1,514 GWh in January 2024 from 1,286 GWh last year and also increased by 19 percent MoM compared to 1,268 GWh in December 2023.
Solar-based generation decreased by 33 percent YoY from 72 GWh last year to 48 GWh in January 2024. During the first seven months of FY24, it fell by 53 percent YoY to 474 GWh from 526 GWh in the same period of FY23.
Fuel Cost: During January 2024, the fuel cost for power generation increased by 23 percent YoY and 34 percent MoM, averaging Rs. 13.8 per unit, compared to an average cost of Rs. 11.2 in January 2023 and Rs. 10.3 per unit in December 2023, respectively. For the first seven months of FY24, fuel costs decreased by 6 percent YoY with an average cost of Rs. 8.8 per unit, compared to Rs. 9.4 per unit in the same period of FY23.
High-Speed Diesel was the most expensive fuel with a fuel cost of Rs. 45.5 per unit during the period under review.