core sector communique

Mineral Production During July 2012 (Provisional)

The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector in July 2012 was lower by 0.5% compared to that of the preceding month. The mineral sector has shown a negative growth of 0.7% during July 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 July 2012 was Rs. 16701 crore. The contribution of petroleum (crude) was the highest at Rs. 5875 crore (35%). Next in the order of importance were: coal Rs. 4426 crore, iron ore Rs. 3482 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 1316 crore, lignite Rs. 393 crore and limestone Rs. 347 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in July 2012. Production level of important minerals in July 2012 were: coal 398 lakh tonnes, lignite 35 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 3517 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 33 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1306 thousand tonnes, chromite 321 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 10 thousand tonnes, gold 139 kg., iron ore 147 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 15 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 171 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 109 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 173 thousand tonnes, dolomite 456 thousand tonnes, limestone 232 lakh tonnes, magnesite 17 thousand tonnes and diamond 3244 carat. In July 2012 the output of diamond increased by 43.0%, chromite 21.4%, gold 13.0%, lead conc. 11.4%, zinc conc.9.6%, bauxite 8.7%, copper conc. 7.9%, petroleum (crude) 3.6%, magnesite 3.0%, natural gas (utilized) 1.4 percent. However the production of limestone decreased by 0.7%, dolomite 2.2%, iron ore 3.7%, coal 4.4%, apatite & phosphorite 8.1%, lignite 11.4% and manganese ore 15.7 percent.