Mineral production in April rises 11.41%

Mineral production in April surged by about 11.41 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year on account of a steady rise in demand from user industries, the Mines Ministry said today.

"Mineral production in April, 2010, was higher by 11.41 per cent as compared to that of the corresponding month of the previous year," the ministry said in a statement here.

However, the comparative figures in terms of the quantum of production were not given.

In value terms, mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during April stood at Rs 10,607 crore.

Coal output was the highest in value terms, at Rs 3,551 crore. Iron ore production stood next at Rs 2,699 crore, petroleum (crude) at Rs 1,599 crore, natural gas (utilised) at Rs 1,399 crore, lignite at Rs 390 crore and limestone at Rs 272 crore in April.

"These six minerals together contributed about 93 per cent of the total value of mineral production in April, 2010," it added.

In April, the total output of the mineral and quarrying sector was 15.95 per cent lower than in March this year.

In terms of output, about 387 lakh tonnes of coal was produced in April. Production of lignite stood at 35 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilised) at 4,457 million cubic metres, petroleum (crude) at 29 lakh tonnes and bauxite at 11.85 lakh tonnes, among others.