Hard coal consumption decreases by 34% in H1

The consumption of hard coal decreased by 34 per cent in January to June 2020 compared with the corresponding period of last year, according to Statistics Finland.

The consumption of hard coal as a fuel in the generation of electricity and heat amounted to 0.963 million tonnes, corresponding to 25 petajoules in energy content.

Compared with the average for the last five years, 43 per cent less hard coal was consumed in the first half of 2020. Compared with one year ago, the consumption of hard coal contracted most in January, by 51 per cent.

Energy consumption in Finland typically fluctuates seasonally. Some of the fluctuation in the consumption of hard coal is explained by the natural variation in the need for electricity and heat between the summer and winter seasons.

At the end of June, the stocks of coal amounted to 1.9 million tonnes. Compared with one year back, the stocks were two per cent lower.