JULY MINERAL PRODUCTION UP 2.7 PER CENT
The total value of
mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the
country during July 2003 was Rs. 4784 crore as compared to Rs.
4711 crore in June 2003 with a positive growth of 2.1 per cent.
It showed 2.7 per cent increase as compared to that of the corresponding
month of previous year. The contribution of coal during the month
was the highest at Rs. 1749 crore (37 %). Next in the order of
importance were petroleum (crude) Rs. 1591 crore, natural gas
(utilized) Rs. 764 crore, iron ore Rs. 197 crore, lignite Rs.
147 crore and limestone Rs. 127 crore. These six minerals together
contributed 96 per cent of the total value of mineral production.
Production level
of important minerals in July 2003 were coal 268 lakh tonnes,
lignite 22 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2626 million cu.m.,
petroleum (crude) 29 lakh tonnes, bauxite 774 thousand tonnes,
chromite 284 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 11 thousand tonnes,
gold 233 kg., iron ore 76 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 6 thousand tonnes,
manganese ore 131 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 49 thousand tonnes,
apatite and phosphorite 57 thousand tonnes, dolomite 299 thousand
tonnes, limestone 124 lakh tonnes and magnesite 22 thousand tonnes.
During July,
2003 the output of lignite increased by 14 per cent, petroleum
(crude) and dolomite 4 per cent each, coal and natural gas (utilised)
3 per cent each, zinc conc. 2 per cent as compared to the preceding
month. However, the output of gold decreased by 10 per cent, chromite
and iron ore 5 per cent each, bauxite, limestone and magnesite
4 per cent each, copper conc. 3 per cent, lead conc., manganese
ore and apatite and phosphorite 1 per cent each.
