Coal news and updates

Mineral production index up 2.7% y-o-y in May

June 23: The index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector for the month of May 2014 stood at 125.6, up 2.7% compared to May 2013, according to a new series (2004-05=100), said an official release from the Ministry of Mines.
The cumulative growth for the period April-May, 2014-15 over the corresponding period of the previous year was 2.6%.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during May 2014 was Rs 18,952 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 6,232 crore (33%) followed by petroleum (crude) Rs 5,770 crore, iron ore Rs 3,111 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs 1,836 crore, lignite Rs 529 crore and limestone Rs 430 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 94% of the total value of mineral production in May 2014.

Production level of important minerals in May 2014 were thus: Coal 45.6 million tons (mt), lignite 4.7 mt, natural gas (utilised) 2,869 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 3.2 mt, bauxite 2.633 mt, chromite 0. 265 mt, copper conc. 11,000 tones, gold 110 kg., iron ore 13.9 mt, lead conc. 13,000 tons, manganese ore 0.230 mt , zinc conc. 0.890 mt, apatite and phosphorite 128, 000 tons, dolomite 635,000 tons, limestone 25.7 mt, magnesite 19,000 tones and diamond 4,791 carat.

In May 2014, the output of chromite increased 53.0%, apatite and phosphorite 39.7%, diamond 28.3%, bauxite 27.9%, magnesite 13.4%, coal 6.8% lignite 4.3 %, limestone 3.2% iron ore 2.8% and dolomite 2.3% over May 2013.

However, production of petroleum (crude) fell by 0.4%, natural gas (utilised) by 2.3%, manganese ore by 6.8%, copper conc. by 12.2%, gold by 13.4%, lead conc.23.3% and zinc conc. 37.8% over May 2013.