core sector communique

Mineral Production During April 2012 (Provisional)

The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector in April 2012 was lower by 16.6% compared to that of the preceding month. The mineral sector has shown a negative growth of 3.1% during April 2012 as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year. The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during April 2012 was Rs.17084 crore. The contribution of petroleum (crude) was the highest at Rs. 5671 crore (33%). Next in the order of importance were: coal Rs 4849 crore, iron ore Rs.3593 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 1330 crore, lignite Rs. 467 crore and limestone Rs. 309 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in April 2012. Production level of important minerals in April 2012 were: coal 421 lakh tonnes, lignite 43 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 3555 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 31 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1391 thousand tonnes, chromite 416 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 10 thousand tonnes, gold 119 kg., iron ore 142 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 15 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 170 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 101 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 205 thousand tonnes, dolomite 390 thousand tonnes, limestone 220 lakh tonnes, magnesite 17 thousand tonnes and diamond 1483 carat. In April 2012 the output of bauxite increased by 10.4%, chromite 7.2 percent. However the production of iron ore decreased by 2.2%, petroleum (crude) 2.3%, limestone 3.5%, natural gas (utilized) 5.2%, diamond 6.2%, magnesite 7.1%, dolomite 11.0%, lead conc. 12.2%, copper conc. 13.5%, zinc conc.13.7%, lignite 17.1%, apatite & phosphorite 19.7%, manganese ore 25.6%, gold 31.2% and coal 34.8 percent.