The UK's consumption of thermal coal for electricity generation in May plummeted to its lowest in nearly three years on low demand and increased use of renewable fuels, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
UK thermal coal consumption in May fell by 20% on the month and 30% on-year to 2.68 million mt, the lowest monthly burn since August 2011, the data showed.
Over the first five months of 2014, the UK's thermal coal burn averaged 3.88 million mt/month, down from 4.22 million mt/month throughout 2013.
Thermal coal stocks at UK power generators increased 8% on the month to 11.7 million mt at the end of May, a year-to-date high.
Total May coal imports into the UK -- including metallurgical coal -- rose 10% month on month to 3.74 million mt.
