Mineral production for mining and quarrying sector rises in April

KOLKATA: The index of mineral production for mining and quarrying sector in April 2016 was at 123.6, which was 1.6% higher than April 2015 even as total value of mineral production in the country, barring atomic minerals, amounted to Rs 18,186 crore in April 2016.

Out of this, coal was the largest contributor at Rs 7232 crore amounting to close to 40% of the total production value, according to provisional data given out by the union mines ministry.

It was followed by petroleum crude at Rs 5375 crore followed by iron ore at Rs 2031 crore.

Natural gas (Rs 1982 crore), limestone (Rs 559 crore) and Lignite at Rs 220 crore.

These six minerals together contributed about 96% of the total value of mineral production in the country in April 2016.
In terms of production during April, coal topped the list at 486 lakh tonne, followed by lignite at 20 lakh tonne, natural gas at 2397 million cubic metre, petroleum crude at 30 lakh tonne, bauxite at 2305 thousand tonne, chromite 252 thousand tonne, copper concentrate at 12,000 tonne, gold at 112 kg, iron ore at 170 lakh tonne, lead concentrate at 16,000 tonne, manganese ore at 194 thousand tonne and zinc concentrate at 56 thousand tonne.

Minerals which showed significant growth over April 2015, include chromite (up 84.2%), magnesite up 76.5%, iron ore up 54.55, copper concentrate up 22.6% and bauxite up 9.4%.

Important minerals showing negative growth include zinc which saw a 555 drop and lead concentrate down 23.8% and coal which went down 0.7%.