Mineral output up 3.7% in Nov

Coal tops with output value of Rs 5,798 cr, or 34% of total, other big contributors include petroleum, iron ore, natural gas

The value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) during November was Rs 17,163 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 5,798 crore (34%)

The country’s index of mineral production of mining and quarrying saw a 3.7 per cent jump in November on a month ago on the back of higher coal, chromite, bauxite and iron ore output, with total value of the products at Rs 17,163 crore.

“The mineral sector has shown a positive growth of one per cent during November  compared a year ago,” an official statement said.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) during November was Rs 17,163 crore.

The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 5,798 crore (34 per cent).

It said next in the order of importance were petroleum (crude oil) at Rs 5,728 crore, iron ore at Rs 2,276 crore, natural gas (utilised) at Rs 1,797 crore, limestone at Rs 364 crore and lignite at Rs 365 crore.

“These together contributed 95 per cent of the total value of mineral production in November,” the statement said.

Production level of important minerals in November included coal output at 47.3 million tonnes (mt), lignite at 2.9 mt, natural gas (utilised) at 2807 million cu. M. and petroleum at 3.1 mt.

The output of gold was at 86 kg, while diamond was 2,180 carats. In November, the output of chromite increased 57 per cent, bauxite 18.3 per cent, coal 11 per cent and iron ore 9.8 per cent.