Hard coal consumption decreases by 4% in Jan-Sept

Consumption of hard coal decreased by four per cent in the January to September period in this year 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 2.2 million tonnes, corresponding to 57 petajoules in energy content. Compared to the average for January to September in the 2000s, the consumption of hard coal was 28 per cent lower.

The warm weather in the second quarter had most effect on the decrease in the consumption of hard coal in January to September. The consumption of hard coal grew by two per cent in the third quarter from one year ago, which was a smaller corresponding change than in the two preceding quarters.

Hard coal consumption in Finland typically fluctuates seasonally. Some of the fluctuation is explained by the natural variation in the need for electricity and heat between the summer and winter seasons. The difference between statistical reference years is explained by variations in the demand for heating energy and the Nordic water situation, which particularly influences the electricity exchange price and thus the consumption of hard coal in separate production of electricity as well. Therefore, long-term consumption development cannot be deducted from the change in hard coal consumption in successive years.

At the end of September, the stocks of coal amounted to two million tonnes, which represented a growth of 21 per cent relative to the stocks at the end of June. Compared with one year back, the stocks were 11 per cent lower.