New Delhi, Sep 28 (FN Agency) Driven primarily by chromite, manganese ore and coal, India’s mineral production rose 10.7% year-on-year in July 2023. “The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of July, 2023 (Base: 2011-12=100) at 111.9, is 10.7 % higher as compared to the level in the month of July, 2022,” said Ministry of Mines in a media release on Thursday. Production of as many as 15 minerals went up during the month under review. As per the provisional statistics of Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), the cumulative mineral production grew 7.3% year-on-year in April-July period of 2023.
The official data showed coal production was 693 lakh tonne in July while lignite was 32 lakh tonne. Among other key minerals, petroleum (crude) production stood at 25 lakh tonne, Bauxite 1477 thousand tonne and chromite 280 thousand tonne. Important minerals showing positive growth during July, 2023 over July, 2022 include chromite (45.9%), manganese ore (41.7%), coal (14.9%), limestone (12.7%), iron ore (11.2%), gold (9.7%), copper conc.(9%), natural gas (8.9%), lead conc. (4.7%), zinc conc. (3.6%), magnesite (3.4%) and petroleum (crude) (2.1%). Some of the key minerals showing negative growth include lignite (-0.7%), bauxite (-3.2%), phosphorite (-24.7%) and diamond (-27.3%).