14th July, 2003
Ministry of Mines  


MAY MINERAL PRODUCTION SHOWS 3 PER CENT GROWTH


The mineral production from mining and quarrying sector registered a positive growth of 3 per cent in May, 2003 as compared to the preceding month mainly due to higher production of coal, lignite, natural gas (utilized), petroleum (crude), chromite, gold, lead conc., apatite and phosphorite, dolomite and magnesite. The mineral production in the month showed 2.5 per cent increase 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 the month was Rs. 4722 crore as compared to Rs. 4628 crore in April 2003. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs. 1754 crore (37 per cent). Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs. 1487 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 757 crore, iron ore Rs. 237 crore, lignite Rs. 156 crore and limestone Rs. 120 crore. These six minerals together contributed 96 per cent of the total value of mineral production in May 2003.

Production level of important minerals in May 2003 were: coal 267 lakh tonnes, lignite 23 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2609 million cu.m., petroleum (crude) 27 lakh tonnes, bauxite 841 thousand tonnes, chromite 339 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 10 thousand tonnes, gold 260 kg., iron ore 88 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 6 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 117 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 45 thousand tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 85 thousand tonnes, dolomite 299 thousand tonnes, limestone 113 lakh tonnes and magnesite 20 thousand tonnes.

During May 2003 the output ot chromite increased by 72 per cent, lignite 13 per cent, apatite and phosphorite 9 per cent, lead conc. 8 per cent, petroleum (crude) 4 per cent, coal and gold 2 per cent each, natural gas (utilised), dolomite and magnesite 1 per cent each as compared to the preceding month. However, the output of iron ore decreased by 9 per cent, manganese ore and limestone 6 per cent each, copper conc. 4 per cent and bauxite 2 per cent. The production of zinc conc. remained almost same at the level of previous month.