PLN?s 2017 coal consumption to be lower than initial projection

By Thomas Sembiring

State-owned electricity firm PT PLN estimated that coal consumption by its coal-fired power plants this year is estimated at 82 million-83 million tons, lower than the initial projection of 84 million tons.

?We estimate it (coal consumption) will be 83 million tons until end of this year,? said PLN Head of Coal Division, Harlem to Petromindo.com recently. He said that consumption will be at least 82 million tons.

He added that as per October, coal consumption has reached 69.5 million tons. He did not explain the reasons for the lower than projected coal consumption.

But PLN has previously said that slower economic growth has undermined electricity consumption in the country, which in turn would curtail coal consumption by power plants.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak