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.
