Mineral production up by 4.31 per cent in April 2006

New Delhi, June 22 (UNI) Mineral production from the mining and quarrying sector in April 2006 was higher by 4.31 per cent compared to the corresponding month of last year.

The contribution of coal at Rs 2,560 crore (41 per cent) was highest of the total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country, during the month, of Rs 6,251 crore.

Coal was followed by petroleum (crude) at Rs 1,533 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs 762 crore, iron ore Rs 710 crore, lignite Rs 154 crore and limestone Rs 158 crore. The six minerals together contributed about 94 per cent of the total value of mineral production.

The production level of coal during the month was 323 lakh tonnes, lignite 22 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilised) 2,631 million cubic metres, petroleum (crude) 28 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1,119 thousand tonnes, chromite 479 thousand tonnes, copper concentrate 11 thousand tonnes, gold 179 kg, iron ore 152 lakh tonnes, lead concentrate 10 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 169 thousand tonnes, zinc concentrate 86 thousand tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 105 thousand tonnes, diamond 2 thousand carat, dolomite 361 thousand tonnes, limestone 150 lakh tonnes and magnesite 19 thousand tonnes.

During the month, the output of Apatite and phosphorite rose by 78.03 per cent, lead concentrate by 6.07 per cent, chromite by 2.26 per cent and dolomite by 1.65 per cent. The production of copper concentrates was marginally lower.

However, the output of zinc concentrate decreased by 1.88 per cent, limestone by 2.33 per cent, petroleum (crude) by 3.23 per cent, natural gas (utilised) by 3.31 per cent, magnesite by 3.99 per cent, bauxite by 5.72 per cent, iron ore by 6.25 per cent, manganese ore by 7.87 per cent, gold by 15.17 per cent, lignite by 24.9 per cent, coal by 26.93 per cent and diamond by 39.69 per cent.

UNI SD PV RS1636