HELSINKI: The consumption of hard coal increased by ten per cent in the first half of 2016 compared with the corresponding period of last year, according to Statistics Finland’s preliminary data. Examined in the longer term, the consumption of hard coal has, however, clearly decreased. Compared to the average for January to June in the 2000s, consumption of hard coal was now one-third lower.
The consumption of hard coal as a fuel in the generation of electricity and heat amounted to 1.7 million tonnes, corresponding to 41 petajoules in energy content. In April, 13 per cent less hard coal was consumed and in May, 16 per cent less than in the previous year, the statistics show. Consumption more than doubled in June, which was primarily due to the record low consumption of hard coal in June 2015.
Most of the hard coal consumed in Finland is used in combined heat and power production. The use of hard coal in separate production of electricity has clearly diminished in recent years because condensate power plants have been removed from use. Hard coal consumption in Finland typically fluctuates seasonally. At the end of June 2016, stocks of hard coal totalled 2.4 million tonnes, or 30 per cent lower than one year earlier.
