Coal news and updates

Mineral production index up 2.5% y-o-y in February

April 16: The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of February 2015 stood at 130.7 (new series 2004-05=100), up 2.8% as compared to February 2014, according to an official release.

The cumulative growth for the period April– February, 2014-15 over the corresponding period of the previous year stands at 1.5%.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during February 2015 was Rs 19,785 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 7,865 crore (40%). Next in the order of importance were: Petroleum (crude) Rs 5,226 crore, iron ore Rs 2,686 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs 2,030 crore, lignite Rs 561 crore and limestone Rs 427 crore.

These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in February 2015.

Production level of important minerals in February 2015 were thus: Coal 58.3 million tons (mt), lignite 4.7 mt natural gas (utilized) 2,455 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 2.9 mt, bauxite 1.651 mt, chromite 2.41 mt, copper conc. 9,000 tons, gold 135 kg., iron ore 12.2 mt, lead conc. 19,000 tons, manganese ore 171,000 tons, zinc conc. 138,000 tons, apatite & phosphorite 100,000 tons, dolomite 494,000 tons, limestone 23.4 mt, magnesite 23,000 tons and diamond 2,946 carat.

In February 2015, production of magnesite grew 55.9%, zinc conc. 47.0%, lead conc. 21.1%, lignite 18.8% and coal 11.6% over February 2014.

However, production of limestone fell 1.5%, petroleum (crude) 1.9%, bauxite 4.2%, diamond 7.9%, natural gas (utilized) 8.2%, apatite & phosphorite 11.7%, iron ore 13.4%, gold 14.6%, copper conc. 21.1%, chromite 24.9%, manganese ore 27.1% and dolomite 28.2% over February 2014.