New Delhi, Dec 19: The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of October (new Series 2004-05=100) 2016 at 129.4, was 1.1% lower as compared to October 2015. The cumulative growth for the period April- October 2016-17 over the corresponding period of previous year has been (-) 0.2 percent.
The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during October 2016 was Rs. 19359 crore. The contribution of Coal was the highest at Rs. 7536 crore (39%). Next in the order of importance were: Petroleum (crude) Rs. 5545 crore, Natural gas (utilized) Rs. 2206 crore, Iron ore Rs. 2047 crore, Lignite Rs.527 crore and Limestone Rs. 548 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in October 2016.
Production level of important minerals in October 2016 were: Coal 522 lakh tonnes, Lignite 29 lakh tonnes, Natural gas (utilized) 2668 million cu. m., Petroleum (crude) 31 lakh tonnes, Bauxite 1868 thousand tonnes, Chromite 211 thousand tonnes, Copper conc. 11 thousand tonnes, Gold 121 kg., Iron ore 159 lakh tonnes, Lead conc. 21 thousand tonnes, Manganese ore 188 thousand tonnes, Zinc conc. 135 thousand tonnes, Apatite & Phosphorite 48 thousand tonnes, Limestone 259 lakh tonnes, Magnesite 20 thousand tonnes and Diamond 2506 carat. The production of important minerals showing positive growth during October 2016 over October 2015 include ‘Diamond’ (43.4%), ‘Gold’ (30.1%), ‘Manganese ore’ (14.1%), ‘Iron ore’ (9.2%), ‘Chromite’ (8.5%), ‘Limestone’ (6.2%), ‘Copper conc.’ (3.4%), and ‘Zinc conc.’ (2.1%). The production of other important minerals showing negative growth are: ‘Apatite & Phosphorite’ [(-) 33.9%], ‘Lignite’ [(-) 20.8%], ‘Magnesite’ [(-) 15.5%], ‘Lead conc. [(-) 13.2%], ‘Petroleum (crude)’ [(-) 3.2%], ‘Natural gas (utilized)’ [(-) 1.2%], ‘Coal’ [(-) 1.1%] and ‘Bauxite’ [(-) 0.8 %].
Source: PIB
