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Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) recorded a 96.5 percent rise in fuel oil consumption in January compared to the corresponding month last year.

Fuel oil use for power generation soared to 334,000 kilolitres (2.1 million barrels) last month as a cold spell increased demand for heating.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, below-average temperatures were recorded in all Japan's regions for the first time in any January since 1986.

The significant increase in fuel oil use in January was accompanied by a fall in Tepco's nuclear power plant utilisation rate to 54.2 percent, down from 62.2 percent the previous year.

Also in January, Tepco's crude oil usage skyrocketed 125,000 kilolitres, or 178.6 percent, to 195,000 kilolitres, whilst usage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) climbed by 5.7 percent.

The following tables show Tepco's consumption and purchases of heavy fuel oil, crude oil and LNG in January 2011 compared with January 2010. For fuel oil and crude, the volume is in kilolitres while LNG is in metric tonnes.

Consumption
Product	Jan 2011	Jan 2010	+/ (%)
Fuel oil	334,000	170,000	+96.5%
Crude oil	195,000	70,000	+178.6%
LNG	1,086,000	1,708,000	+5.7%

Purchases
Product	Jan 2011	Jan 2010	+/ (%)
Fuel oil	248,000	155,000	+60%
Crude oil	140,000	62,000	+125.8%
LNG	1,810,000	1,634,000	+10.8%

Source: Reuters