Chinese Power Plants Generate Better Profits Amid Lower Coal Prices

What’s new: Chinese power plants are generating improved profitability as sliding coal prices brought down production costs in the first quarter and narrowed losses for coal-fired operations.

Shanghai-traded Datang International Power Generation Co. Ltd. reported a net profit of 137 million yuan ($19.8 million) in the first quarter, compared with a net loss of 400 million yuan during the same period last year. Huaneng Power International Inc. reversed a net loss of 1 billion yuan from a year ago and posted a net first-quarter profit of 2.25 billion yuan.