Reuters reported that the recent rise in US natural gas prices is set to put a dent in demand for the fuel as some utilities resume the use of more coal to generate electricity after record high natural gas production pushed prices to 10 year lows in April, luring power companies away from coal.
The spread between NYMEX Central Appalachian coal prices and Henry Hub natural gas futures on Friday reached its narrowest in seven months as gas prices rebounded from lows plumbed earlier this year, making the fuel less of a bargain.
The relative price difference on Friday was about 95 cents per million British thermal units, the narrowest since December 2011 and thin enough to discourage more use of natural gas in electricity generation.
The spread peaked at 22 cents per mmBtu on April 19 when gas, historically more expensive than coal, hit a 10 year low of USD 1.902 due to oversupply, while coal was fetching about USD 2.13.
Since then, gas prices have rebounded to USD 3.08 per mmBtu, but coal, which is typically priced per ton, dipped to about USD 2.10 per mmBtu.
As per report, some power plants are already moving back to coal, a trend set to increase with gas prices expected to continue rising.
Source - Reuters
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