China Huadian Corp lost 813 million yuan in the first quarter as coal costs rose as much as 70 yuan a ton, the newspaper reported, citing Deputy Sales Director Wang Xinan.

China Power Investment Corp's coal costs rose 1.45 billion yuan after it boosted electricity output 11 percent in the first four months of this year, it reported, citing Zhao Fengyun, deputy director for operations at the utility.

China Datang Corp's coal stockpile dropped to 5.12 million tons at the end of March, or about 9.1 days' consumption, the newspaper cited the utility's marketing director Fang Xiaoshuai as saying. China Huaneng Group Corp and China Guodian Corp are the remaining state-owned electricity producers.

(Shanghai Daily May 7, 2008)