India’s mineral production rose by 16 per cent year-on-year during the April-December period of the current financial year, provisional statistics of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) showed on Wednesday (Feb. 16).
The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of December 2021 stood at 120.3, higher by 2.6 percent compared to the level in the month of December 2020, the Ministry of Mines on Thursday said in a statement on Thursday (Feb. 17).
The important minerals which witnessed a positive growth in production in December 2021 over December 2020 included: magnesite (up 73.2 per cent), Gold (71.0 per cent), Bauxite (27.1 per cent), Lignite (21.4 per cent), Natural gas (utilized) (19.5 per cent), Coal (5.3 per cent) and Chromite (5.3 per cent).
On the other hand, the production of other important minerals showing negative growth included: Petroleum (Crude) (-1.8 per cent), Zinc concentrates (-4.3 per cent), Iron ore (-6.2 per cent), Manganese ore (-7.3 per cent), Limestone (-7.5 per cent), Copper concentrates (-10.3 per cent), Lead concentrates (-17.4 per cent), Phosphorite (-20.4 per cent) and Diamond (-97.6 per cent).
The production level of important minerals in December 2021 were: Coal 748 lakh tonnes, Lignite 39 lakh tonnes, Natural gas (utilized) 2814 million cu. m., Petroleum (crude) 25 lakh tonnes, Bauxite 2492 thousand tonnes, Chromite 384 thousand tonnes, Copper concentrates 10 thousand tonnes, Gold 106 kg, Iron ore 209 lakh tonnes, Lead concentrates 28 thousand tonnes, Manganese ore 273 thousand tonnes, Zinc concentrates 126 thousand tonnes, Limestone 309 lakh tonnes, Phosphorite 110 thousand tonnes, Magnesite 11 thousand tonnes and Diamond 70 carat.
The rise in coal production comes after the country witnessed a severe coal shortage in September-October last year raising concerns of major interruption to power suppliers.
Fitch Ratings in a recent report said that domestic coal production is likely rise gradually this year, although imports also are likely to increase moderately due to moderation in coal prices and projected growth in economic activities.
Minerals are valuable natural resources. They constitute the vital raw materials for many basic industries and are a major resource for development. The history of mineral extraction in India dates back to the days of the Harappan civilization. The wide availability of
the minerals in the form of abundant rich reserves made it very conducive for the growth and development of the mining sector in India.
The country is endowed with huge resources of many metallic and non-metallic minerals. Mining sector is an important segment of the Indian economy. Since independence, there has been a pronounced growth in the mineral production both in terms of quantity and value, according to the Ministry of Mines.
