Mineral prod up by 13.2 per cent in March 2006

New Delhi, May 24 (UNI) The mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in March 2006 increased by 13.2 per cent as compared to the preceding month.

There was a marginal increase against the production of the corresponding month of previous year.

According to data released by the Ministry of Mines, the total value of mineral production excluding atomic and minor minerals in the country during the month was Rs 7,031 crore.

The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 3,229 crore accounting 46 per cent share in the total pool. Next in the order of importance were: crude petroleum Rs 1,584 crore, utilised natural gas Rs 789 crore, iron ore Rs 722 crore, lignite Rs 201 crore and limestone Rs 163 crore.

These six minerals together contributed about 95 per cent of the total value of mineral production in March 2006.

Production level of important minerals during the month were: coal 447 lakh tonnes, lignite 28 lakh tonnes, utilised natural gas 2,721 million cubic meter, crude petroleum 28 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1,175 thousand tonnes, chromite 371 thousand tonnes, copper concentrate 10,000 tonnes, gold 211 kg, iron ore 152 lakh tonnes, lead concentrate 10,000 tonnes, manganese ore 1,59,000 tonnes, zinc concentrate 87,000 tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 1,31,000 tonnes, diamond 3,000 carat, dolomite 3,78,000 tonnes, limestone 153 lakh tonnes and magnesite 20,000 tonnes.

During the month, the output of zinc concentrate increased by 37.3 per cent, lead concentrate 36.3 per cent, coal by 18 per cent, bauxite by 14.1 per cent, crude petroleum by 11.9 per cent, utilised natural gas by 11.2 per cent, lignite and magnesite by 10.9 per cent each, iron ore by 8.8 per cent, limestone 8.7 per cent, apatite and phosphorite by 5.2 per cent, copper concentrate by 4.6 per cent, dolomite by 4.5 per cent and chromite 1.7 per cent cent.

However, the output of gold decreased by 2.3 per cent, manganese ore by 1 per cent and diamond by 8.6 per cent.

UNI BKS PV ND1506