India's mineral production up 3.79 per cent in April

Mineral production in the country grew 3.79 per cent during April 2009 as compared to the growth in the corresponding month of previous year. Production in the mining and quarrying sector during April 2009, however, was down 15.85 per cent from that of the preceding month.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during April 2009 was Rs8,647 crore. Of this, the contribution of coal was the highest at Rs3,157 crore (37 per cent).

Next in the order of importance were: iron ore Rs2,098 crore, petroleum (crude) Rs1,521 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs876 crore, lignite Rs242 crore and limestone Rs209 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 94 per cent of the total value of mineral production in April 2009.

Production level of important minerals in April 2009 were: coal 40,000,000 tonnes, lignite 30 million tonnes, natural gas (utilised) 2,837 million cu m, petroleum (crude) 27 lakh tonnes, bauxite 12.17 lakh tonnes, chromite 4.31 lakh tonnes, copper concentrate 13,000 tonnes, gold 157 kg, iron ore 20,200,000 lakh tonnes, lead concentrate 10,000 tonnes, manganese ore 198,000 tonnes, zinc concentrate 106,000 tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 7,000 tonnes, dolomite 355,000 tonnes, limestone 18.2 million tonnes and magnesite 20,000 tonnes.

In April 2009, the output of natural gas (utilised) increased by 3.92 per cent. The production of copper concentrate, zinc concentrate and lead concentrate remains at the level of previous month. However, the production of limestone decreased by 0.92 per cent, magnesite 2.08 per cent, gold 2.48 per cent, petroleum (crude) 4.45 per cent, manganese ore 6.74 per cent, dolomite 7.4 per cent, iron ore 14.34 per cent, bauxite 25.65 per cent, chromite 26.41 per cent, coal 29.22 per cent, lignite 40.41 per cent, apatite and phosphorite 29.49 per cent.