Mineral production during December 2007

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) The mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in December 2007 increased by 4.48 per cent as compared to that of the preceding month.

Similarly the mineral sector has shown a positive growth of 4.84 per cent during the current financial year from April-December 2007 as compared to that of the previous year.

The mineral production in December 2007 was also higher by 3.01 per cent as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during December 2007 was Rs 7943 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 3498 crore (44 per cent).

Next in the order of importance were petroleum (crude) Rs 1605 crore, iron ore Rs 1294 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs 796 crore, lignite Rs 186 crore and limestone Rs 181 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 95 per cent of the total value of mineral production in December 2007.

Production level of important minerals in December 2007 were coal 435 lakh tonnes, lignite 27 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2752 million cubic meter, petroleum (crude) 29 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1712 thousand tones, chromite 392 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 14 thousand tonnes, gold 222 kg., iron ore 165 lakh tonnes, lead conc.

11 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 214 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 89 thousand tonnes, apatite&phosphorite 134 thousand tonnes, dolomite 362 thousand tonnes, limestone 156 lakh tonnes and magnesite 22 thousand tonnes.

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

In December 2007 the output of apatite and phosphorite increased 34.19 per cent, lead conc. 28.61 per cent, magnesite 13.87 per cent, manganese ore 11.86 per cent, lignite 10.51 per cent, coal 9.24 per cent, zinc conc. 5.81 per cent, iron ore 5.50 per cent, gold 5.21 per cent, petroleum (crude) 2.09 per cent and natural gas (utilized) 1.89 per cent.

The production of copper conc. maintained the level of preceding month. Whereas the production of limestone decreased 1.39 per cent, dolomite 2.44 per cent, chromite 8.40 per cent and bauxite 14.42 per cent, said an official release issued here today.

UNI BKS BJR AS1748