India's mineral production down 2.13 per cent in July
28 Oct 2009
Mineral production in the country from the mining and quarrying sector was down 2.13 per cent in July 2009 compared with that of the previous month. The mineral sector, however, showed positive growth of 7.49 per cent during the first four months of the current financial year (April- July 2009-10) compared to the previous year.
Mineral production in June 2009 was 9.93 per cent higher compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year.
Total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during July 2009 was Rs8,304 crore.
The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs2,916 crore (35 per cent). Next in the order of importance were: iron ore Rs1,793 crore, petroleum (crude) Rs1,554 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs1,138 crore, lignite Rs201 crore and limestone Rs215 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 94 per cent of the total value of the country's mineral production in July 2009.
Production levels of important minerals in July 2009 were: coal 36.2 million tonnes, lignite 2.4 million tonnes, natural gas (utilised) 3669 million cu m, petroleum (crude) 2.8 million tonnes, bauxite 1.03 million tonnes, chromite 0.25 million tonnes, copper concentrate 6,000 tonnes, gold 202 kg, iron ore 17.7 million tonnes, lead concentrate 12,000 tonnes, manganese ore 0.21 million tonnes, zinc concentrate 0.11 million tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 1.61 million tonnes, dolomite 3.79 million tonnes, limestone 18.5 million tonnes and magnesite 23,000 tonnes.
In July 2009, the output of gold increased by 22.42 per cent, that of bauxite by 9.68 per cent, manganese ore by 6.32 per cent, natural gas (utilised) by 5.67 per cent, magnesite ore by 3.49 per cent, limestone 2.81 per cent and petroleum (crude) by 1.34 per cent.
The production of iron ore remained at the previous month's level. However, the production of copper concentrate decreased by 0.14 per cent, zinc concentrate by 2.03 per cent, lead concentrate by 2.81 per cent, apatite and phosphorite by 5.27 per cent, coal by 8.94 per cent, dolomite by 9.3 per cent, chromite by 11.60 per cent, and lignite by 21.1 per cent.