Mineral sector posts 3.96 pc growth in Apr-Jul 06

New Delhi, Sep 25 (UNI) The mineral sector has shown a growth of 3.96 per cent during April-July, 2006 as compared to the same period of the previous year.

The production in July, 2006 was higher by 6 per cent compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

The total value of mineral production excluding atomic and minor minerals in the country during July, 2006 was Rs 6,037 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 2,342 crore (39 per cent).

Next in the order of importance were crude petroleum Rs 1,594 crore, utlised natural gas Rs 7,73 crore, iron ore Rs 693 crore, lignite Rs 170 crore and limestone Rs 158 crore.

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

Production level of important minerals in July were coal 308 lakh tonnes, lignite 23 lakh tonnes, utilised natural gas 2,675 million cu m, crude petroleum 29 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1,094 thousand tonnes, chromite 289 thousand tonnes, copper conc 10 thousand tonnes, gold 174 kg, iron ore 122 lakh tonnes, lead conc 9 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 143 thousand tonnes, zinc conc 81 thousand tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 122 thousand tonnes, dolomite 352 thousand tonnes, limestone 141 lakh tonnes and magnesite 21 thousand tonnes.

During the month, the output of bauxite increased by 26.08 per cent, gold by 4.82 per cent, utilised natural gas by 2.96 per cent and crude petroleum by 1.24 per cent.

A marginal increase was observed in the output of copper concentrates and dolomite.

However, the output of Apatite and phosphorite decreased by 10.63 per cent, manganese ore by 8.67 per cent, lignite by 6.38 per cent, chromite by 6.24 per cent, coal by 4.69 per cent, limestone by 4.53 per cent, lead conc. By 3.45 per cent, zinc conc by 3.13 per cent, iron ore by 3.11 per cent and magnesite by 1.41 per cent, a Mines Ministry statement said here today.

UNI BKS SBA DS1440