Coal news and updates

Mineral production index up 3% y-o-y in Dec

February 24: The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of December (new Series 2004-05=100) 2014 stood at 131.6, up 3.2% as compared to December 2013, according to an official release.

The cumulative growth for the period April–December, 2014-15 over the corresponding period of the previous year stands at 1.7%.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during December 2014 was Rs 19,684 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 7,386 crore (38%). Next in the order of importance were petroleum (crude) Rs 5,834 crore, iron ore Rs 2,397 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs 2,302 crore, lignite Rs 473 crore and limestone Rs 422 crore.

These six minerals together contributed about 96% of the total value of mineral production in December 2014.

Production level of important minerals in December 2014 were thus: Coal 55.8 million tons (mt), lignite 4.1 mt, natural gas (utilised) 2,783 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 3.2 mt, bauxite 2.345 mt, chromite 1.60 mt, copper conc. 7,000 tons, gold 143 kg, iron ore 9.2 mt, lead conc. 17,000 tons, manganese ore 194,000 tons, zinc conc. 143,000 tons, apatite & phosphorite 100,000 tons, dolomite 439,000 tons, limestone 2.30 mt, magnesite 24,000  tons and diamond 2,874 carat.

In December 2014, production of magnesite grew 34.9%, gold 17.2%, zinc conc.14.5%, lead conc. 7.1%, lignite 5.3%, coal 2.8%, and limestone 1.7% over December 2012.

However, production of petroleum (crude) fell 1.4%, natural gas (utilised) 4.2%, diamond 10.4%, bauxite 18.2%, manganese ore and copper conc.31.2% each, dolomite 35.6%, iron ore 38.3%, apatite & phosphorite  40.9% and chromite  49.4% over December 2013.