Mineral production dips 7.57% in June

New Delhi, Sept 10 (UNI) Mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in June 2008 has decreased by 7.57 per cent as compared to last month.

However, the mineral sector has shown a positive growth of 4.67 per cent during the current financial year (April-June 2008-09) as compared to that of the previous year, an official statement said here today.

The mineral production in June 2008 was also higher by 2.92 per cent as compared to that of the corresponding month of last year.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during June 2008 was Rs 7,824 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 2,793 crore (36 per cent).

Next in the order of importance were: iron ore Rs 1,752 crore, petroleum (crude) Rs 1,473 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs.781 crore, lignite Rs 204 crore and limestone Rs 214 crore.

These six minerals together contributed about 92 per cent of the total value of mineral production in June 2008.

Production level of important minerals in June 2008 were: coal 346 lakh tonnes, lignite 25 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilised) 2,540 million cubic metre, petroleum (crude) 26 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1,303 thousand tonnes, chromite 416 thousand tonnes, copper conc eight thousand tonnes, gold 247 kg, iron ore 185 lakh tonnes, lead conc 10 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 242 thousand tonnes, zinc conc 88 thousand tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 154 thousand tonnes, dolomite 297 thousand tonnes, limestone 173 lakh tonnes and magnesite 22 thousand tonnes.

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

In June 2008, the out of copper conc remains at the level of previous month whereas it was marginally lower in case of gold and magnesite. However, the production of iron ore decreased 1.08 per cent, limestone 1.41 per cent, zinc conc. 2.66 per cent, manganese ore 4.23 per cent, apatite and phosphorite 5.70 per cent, coal 6.16 per cent, petroleum (crude) 9.04 per cent, natural gas (utilised) 9.38 per cent, chromite 10.88 per cent, lead conc. 13.21 per cent, dolomite 19.91 per cent, lignite 23.31 per cent and bauxite 36.76 percent.

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