Coal news and updates

Mineral production index up 4.3% y-o-y in June

August 27: The index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector for the month of July 2014 stood at 121.5, up 4.3% compared to June 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-June, 2014-15 over the corresponding period of the previous year was 3.2%.

In May 2014, the index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector stood at 125.6.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during June 2014 was Rs 17,615 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 5,882 crore (33%) followed by petroleum (crude) Rs 5,706 crore, iron ore Rs 2,360 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs 1,809 crore, lignite Rs 490 crore and limestone Rs 403 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in June 2014.

Production level of important minerals in June 2014 were thus: Coal 44.1 million tons (mt), lignite 4.3 mt, natural gas (utilized) 2,826 million cu.m., petroleum (crude) 3.1 mt, bauxite 1.780 mt, chromite 0.241 mt, copper conc 9,000 tones, gold 131 kg, iron ore 11.7 mt, lead conc. 15,000 tons, manganese ore 0.224 mt, zinc conc. 0.102 mt, apatite & phosphorite 15,000 tons, dolomite 605,000 tons, limestone 23.8 mt, magnesite 22,000 tons and diamond 3,916 carat.

In June 2014, the output of apatite & phosphorite increased 144.7%, diamond 43.2%, magnesite 25.2% , manganese ore 21.7%, lignite 14.6%, coal 9.7%, dolomite 8.4%, iron ore 7.7%, limestone 5.9%, bauxite and gold 5.7% each and petroleum (crude)0.1% over June 2013.

However, production of chromite fell 0.7%, natural gas (utilized) 1.5%, lead conc. 19.3%, zinc conc. 22.8% and copper concentrate 23.5% over June 2013.