Mineral production rises 4 per cent in March

New Delhi: Mineral production in India registered a growth of 4 percent year-on-year in March 2022 led by strong growth in iron ore, phosphorite, natural gas, and lignite, the government data showed on Tuesday.

The index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector for the month of March 2022 (Base: 2011-12=100) at 144.6, was 4 percent higher as compared to the level in March 2021, according to data released by the Ministry of Mines. As per the provisional figures of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), the cumulative growth for the period April-March, 2021-22 over the corresponding period of the previous year has increased 12.2 percent.

The production level of important minerals in March 2022 were: Coal 958 lakh tonnes, Lignite 60 lakh tonnes, Natural gas (utilised) 2813 million cu. m., Petroleum (crude) 25 lakh tonnes, Bauxite 2031 thousand tonnes, Chromite 414 thousand tonnes, Copper conc. 9 thousand tonnes, Gold 169 kg, Iron ore 270 lakh tonnes, Lead conc. 39 thousand tonnes, Manganese ore 269 thousand tonnes, Zinc conc. 182 thousand tonnes, Limestone 373 lakh tonnes, Phosphorite 158 thousand tonnes, Magnesite 12 thousand tonnes, and Diamond 8 carat.

The production of important minerals showing positive growth during March, 2022 over March, 2021 include: Iron Ore (19.2 per cent), Phosphorite (17.4 per cent), Lignite (16.2 per cent), Gold (13.8 per cent), Zinc conc (10.9 per cent), Natural Gas (U) (7.6 per cent), and Magnesite (6.3 per cent).
The production of other important minerals showing negative growth include: Coal (-0.2 per cent), Petroleum (crude) (-3.4 per cent), Bauxite (-4.8 per cent), Lead conc (-5.1 per cent), Limestone (-5.4 per cent), Copper conc (-22.7 per cent), Chromite (-31.8 per cent), Manganese ore (-32.7 per cent), and Diamond (-75.8 per cent). (ANI)