Rates were heard to have risen to Eur25-Eur35/mt, from a usual level of Eur4-7/mt, and barge sources expected rates to remain at similarly high levels through to the end of the year.Ī European barge broker said the situation was "killing business" as utilities were either railing coal or keeping it in stockpiles. Currently, coal barges were unable to travel further than Cologne, sources said.įreight rates for coal barges were heard to have increased greatly as water levels receded. The delivered-Europe CIF ARA thermal coal price had been resilient to the Rhine situation so far, with only a slight contango emerging between the front months, but sources were weary that a sustained logistical bottlenecks on the Rhine would eventually drag prices down from current high levels.ĭespite the slight recovery expected in water levels, a coal barge operator said at least 50 cm would be required as it would allow barges to reach the upper Rhine, but a level of 250 cm would be required in the long term. SELECTED HARD COAL PLANT OUTAGE (EEX TRANSPARENCY) FromīARGE OPERATOR SAYS 'AT LEAST 50 CM' DEPTH NEEDED Utilities RWE and EnBW have been warning since August that low Rhine levels were hitting supply to some of their hard coal-fired plants, with EnBW reissuing warnings Tuesday because of steep falls this week. A number of other hard coal plants have seen production cuts in the past week, although on a national level coal burn remained strong, EEX Transparency and Fraunhofer data showed. On Friday EnBW also announced a planned outage for 842 MW RDK 8 hard coal plant in Karlsruhe from October 27 to November 1, with its 778 MW Heilbronn coal plant out from November 3 for a week as well. German spot power prices are currently firm traders said with wind and more lignite availability to ease some of the bullishness caused by low water levels. There is rain forecast in the Alps ," a trader said Friday. "There are issues with the coal transport and the impact on power prices is bullish.
BfG said Thursday that the few days of rain forecast wouldn't be enough to bring sustainable relief to the low water situation on the Rhine With premium transport payments typically applying from about 140-150 cm at Kaub a quick elimination of transport issues is not in sight though. Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience.Ĭurrently pegged at 30 cm at the Kaub chokepoint, the Rhine is set to reach 41 cm Tuesday, according to the lastest forecast.