Mineral production up by 6.94 pc in September'06

New Delhi, Nov 27 (UNI) The mineral production from mining and quarrying sector increased by 6.94 per cent in September this year as compared to the preceding month.

The mineral sector showed a positive growth of 3.11 per cent during April-September 2006 as compared to that of the same period of the previous year.

The mineral production in September was higher by 3.92 per cent as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year, said an official statement issued here today.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during September 2006 was Rs 5,774 crore.

The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 2,279 crore (40 per cent).

Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs 1,567 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs 715 crore, iron ore Rs 612 crore, lignite Rs 164 crore and limestone Rs 163 crore.

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

Production level of important minerals in September 2006 were : coal 295 lakh tonnes, lignite 23 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilised) 2482 million cu.m. petroleum (crude) 28 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1033 thousand tonnes, chromite 194 thousand tonnes, copper cone 12 thousand tonnes, gold 155 kg, iron ore 109 lakh tonnes, lead conc 8 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 140 thousand tonnes, zinc conc 78 thousand tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 107 thousand tonnes, dolomite 298 thousand tonnes, limestone 141 lakh tonnes and magnesite 22 thousand tonnes.

A nominal production of diamond was also reported in the current month.

During September 2006, the output of natural gas (utilised) increased by 33.51 per cent, bauxite by 25.03 per cent, lead conc by 17.51 per cent, limestone by 11.31 per cent, chromite by 11.13 per cent, gold by 9.93 per cent, zinc conc by 5.35 per cent, manganese ore by 4.85 per cent, petroleum (crude) by 4.11 per cent and a marginal growth was observed in the production of coal.

However, the output of apatite and phosphorite decreased by 1.18 per cent, copper concentrates by 6.54 per cent, magnesite by 6.67 per cent and dolomite by 12.61 per cent whereas a marginal decrease was observed in the production of lignite and iron ore. UNI BKS PV KN1651