Coal news and updates

India’s mineral production index up 5% y-o-y in Feb

India’s mineral production index in February 2016 increased by 5% on a year-on-year basis with the total value of the output crossing Rs 19,995 crore, official data released by Ministry of Mines said.

The index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector for February 2016 (new Series 2004-05=100) 2015 stood at 136.50, up 5% compared to February 2015, the release said.

According to a release by the ministry of April 15, 2015, the mineral production index in February 2015 stood at 130.7.

The cumulative growth for the first 11 months was higher by 2.4% compared to the same period of the previous year, it said.

Of the total value of mineral production in February, the contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 8,662 crore (43%), while the value of petroleum (crude) was Rs 5,266 crore. The value of natural gas (utilised) stood at Rs 2,063 crore, iron ore at Rs 1,945 crore, lignite at Rs 705 crore and limestone Rs 512 crore.

These six minerals together contributed about 96% of the total value of mineral production in February 2016.

Production of coal in February stood at 60.1 million tons (mt), lignite at 5.1 mt, natural gas (utilised) at 2,495 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) at 2.9 mt, bauxite at 1.827 mt, chromite at 0.350 mt, copper concentrate at 12,000 tons, gold at 101 kg, iron ore 16.4 mt, lead conc. 21,000 tons, manganese ore 0.171 mt, zinc conc. 90,000 tons, apatite & phosphorite at 57,000 tons, limestone at 26.0 mt, magnesite at 22,000 tons and diamond at 4,153 carat.

The production of copper conc, chromite, diamond, iron ore, lead conc., coal, magnesite, manganese ore, limestone and petroleum (crude) showed positive growth in February whereas the production of apatite & phosphorite, zinc conc, gold, natural gas (utilised), bauxite, and lignite showed negative growth.