NTPC's Q2 net drops 18% on tax outgo, higher expenses

State-run generator NTPC on Friday posted an 18 per cent fall in net profit for the second quarter ended September caused by high tax outgo and increase in expenses.

Net profit in the second quarter fell to Rs 2,469.47 crore compared with Rs 3,016.35 in the corresponding period last year, NTPC said in a stock exchange filing.

Revenue during the quarter in review grew by 8.1 percent compared with year-ago period to Rs 19,398 crore.

The company's other income during the quarter fell sharply to Rs 190.6 crore, that is by 31.5 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.

Gross power generation for the quarter stood at 60.593 billion units, up 0.72 per cent over a year-ago period but down 6.14 per cent compared to the previous quarter.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) jumped 31.1 per cent to Rs 5,396 crore and margin expanded 487 basis points to 27.8 per cent.

The company's other expenses declined 10.4 per cent against last year to Rs 1,240.9 crore.

Plant loan factor (for coal-based plants) dropped to 74.65 per cent in the quarter, from 77.27 per cent in same quarter last year and 81.35 percent in the previous quarter, the company said.

During the quarter in consideration, NTPC's total tax expense stood at Rs 762.05 crore compared with a refund of Rs 726.55 the company received in the corresponding period last year, the company said.

NTPC's total expenses in the quarter rose to Rs 15,436.28 crore, from 15,113.30 crore in the corresponding period last year.

This was mostly due to an increase in fuel cost which rose to Rs 11,912.97 crore in July-September, from Rs 11540.83 crore during the same period last year.

NTPC stock closed on Friday at Rs 152.25 a share, up 0.25 points, or 0.16 per cent, over its previous close on the BSE.

--IANS

bc/vd