India's Adani Power Q2 profit soars on demand surge, tax gain

BENGALURU, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Indian thermal power producer Adani Power (ADAN.NS) reported a near ten-fold surge in second-quarter profit on Thursday, as it benefited from soaring power demand and a tax gain.

Shares of Adani Power, part of billionaire Gautam Adanis eponymous conglomerate, jumped as much as 7.7% to 393.4 rupees after the results. They had climbed 51% from July to September.

The companys consolidated net profit climbed to 65.94 billion rupees ($792.3 million) in the quarter, helped in part by a tax gain of 13.71 billion rupees.

It had posted a profit of 6.96 billion rupees a year ago.

Indias power demand, which typically peaks during May, unexpectedly surged in the September quarter due to unusually dry weather, a sharp plunge in hydroelectric output and higher economic activity.

Last month, rival JSW Energy (JSWE.NS) posted a near 83% surge in its quarterly profit.

Adani Powers consolidated average plant load factor, a percentage of energy sent out by the power plant corresponding to installed capacity, rose to 58.3% from 39.2%.

Power sales volume jumped about 65% to 18.1 billion units.

That helped Adani Powers revenue from operations surge 84.4% to 129.91 billion rupees.

Its total expenses rose 25.4%, mostly due to higher fuel costs, which made up about three-fourths of overall costs.

The Adani Groups flagship firm Adani Enterprises (ADEL.NS) is scheduled to report results later in the day.

($1 = 83.2250 Indian rupees)