Home > Statistics > Consumption of hard coal > 2008 > September > Consumption of hard coal decreased by 36 per cent in January to September

Published: 24 October 2008

Consumption of hard coal decreased by 36 per cent in January to September

Approximately 2.3 million tonnes (56,000 TJ) of hard coal was consumed as fuel in the generation of electricity and heat in the January to September period of 2008. The consumption fell by 36 per cent from the corresponding period of the previous year and was 40 per cent below the average for the 2000s. Use of hard coal decreased both in separate production of electricity and in combined heat and power production. The reasons for the decrease in consumption were the favourable water situation in the Nordic countries and ample production of hydro power as well as the beginning of the second EU emissions trading period at the start of the year. The need for heating energy was reduced by the mild weather in January and February.

The depletion of the water supply in the Nordic countries which started in August-September showed as an increase in the use of hard coal in the latest quarter. At the same time, Finland's exports of electricity grew larger than imports on the Nordic electricity market. Nevertheless, 28 per cent less hard coal was still consumed in the third quarter than in the corresponding period of the year before.

Consumption of Hard Coal, 12-month moving total, million tonnes

Consumption of Hard Coal, 1000 t

	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
January	490	580	820	890	380	550	560	410
February	600	440	750	720	430	590	680	330
March	640	420	730	660	570	660	510	330
April	430	320	660	550	280	420	340	230
May	340	190	570	490	230	370	240	150
June	260	130	380	460	90	450	300	170
July	190	210	380	410	50	500	110	90
August	210	270	490	480	90	580	300	200
September	230	450	650	430	90	680	500	370
October	330	760	700	530	210	660	640
November	420	770	700	630	300	660	750
December	570	800	800	480	460	450	720
1st to 3rd quarter total	3390	3020	5430	5080	2230	4810	3530	2270
Whole year	4710	5360	7640	6720	3200	6590	5640

Hard Coal Stocks, month-end, million tonnes

	2006	2007	2008
January	5.0	4.4	3.6
February	4.6	4.1	3.6
March	4.1	4.2	3.7
April	3.9	4.4	3.7
May	3.8	4.8	3.9
June	3.7	4.8	4.0
July	3.4	4.9	4.1
August	3.2	5.0	4.3
September	3.3	4.7	4.1
October	3.5	4.5
November	3.8	4.1
December	4.4	3.7

Source: Since 2005 Statistics Finland, 1997-2004 Coal Users' Committee/Finergy

Inquiries: Mr Anssi Vuorio +358 9 1734 2685, Ms Leena Timonen +358 9 1734 2518, energia@stat.fi

Acting Director in charge: Mr Matti Parkkinen

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Last updated 24.10.2008