TOKYO, March 11 - Japan's top utility, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said its oil and gas consumption fell sharply in February from a year earlier, as
higher nuclear plant usage and weakening demand dented thermal power generation.
Fuel oil consumption slid 34.8 percent and LNG fell 18.4 percent but coal consumption was flat from last February, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Sliding demand as Japan goes through a deep recession means TEPCO's fossil fuel consumption has been falling in annual terms since the middle of last year.
It had jumped after an earthquake closed TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the world's largest, in July 2007. The plant may resume some operations shortly.
Japan's 10 utilities generated 6.4 percent less electricity in January than a year earlier, marking the biggest percentage drop in 3- years, as industrial production has tumbled since late last year as demand for the country's exports slides amid a global economic downturn.
TEPCO's nuclear power plant utilisation rate averaged 46.9 percent in February, up 6.8 percentage points from the same month last year, helping curb consumption of costly fuel.
higher nuclear plant usage and weakening demand dented thermal power generation.
Fuel oil consumption slid 34.8 percent and LNG fell 18.4 percent but coal consumption was flat from last February, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Sliding demand as Japan goes through a deep recession means TEPCO's fossil fuel consumption has been falling in annual terms since the middle of last year.
It had jumped after an earthquake closed TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the world's largest, in July 2007. The plant may resume some operations shortly.
Japan's 10 utilities generated 6.4 percent less electricity in January than a year earlier, marking the biggest percentage drop in 3- years, as industrial production has tumbled since late last year as demand for the country's exports slides amid a global economic downturn.
TEPCO's nuclear power plant utilisation rate averaged 46.9 percent in February, up 6.8 percentage points from the same month last year, helping curb consumption of costly fuel.
