New Delhi: The index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector for the month of April was 7.8 per cent higher as compared to the level in the month of April, 2021. As per the provisional figures of Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), production level of important minerals in April, 2022 were coal 665 lakh tonnes, lignite 40 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2748 million cum, petroleum (crude) 25 lakh tonnes, bauxite 2054 thousand tonnes, chromite 455 thousand tonnes, copper conc. eight thousand tonnes , gold 111 kg, iron ore 218 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 26 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 248 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 124 thousand tonnes, limestone 343 lakh tonnes, phosphorite 120 thousand tonnes, magnesite 8 thousand tonnes, and diamond two carat.

The production of important minerals showing positive growth during April, 2022 over April, 2021 include magnesite (44.3 pc), manganese ore (28.9 pc), coal (28.8 pc), lignite (28.4 pc), bauxite (18.5 pc), zinc conc (10.5 pc), natural gas (U) (6.4 pc), and phosphorite (0.5 pc). The production of other important minerals showing negative growth include petroleum (crude) (0.9 pc), limestone (-2.7 pc), copper conc (-4.2 pc), iron ore (-5.6 pc), lead conc (-11.2 pc), chromite (-16.1 pc), and gold (-22.4 pc), said the Ministry of Mines in a statement. /BI/