Mineral production was flat in March 2020 as the growth of iron ore, chromite and coal production was offset by a contraction in the production of natural gas, crude oil, zinc and manganese ore. According to production data released by the Ministry of Mines on Saturday, the mineral production index for the mining and mining sector for March was flat at 132.7 compared to the same month last year.
For the whole of 2019-20 years, mineral production increased by 1.7%, the Ministry said in a press release.
Coal production increased by 4.3 per cent to 958 lakh tons in March of the same month last year. Chromite production increased by 15.9 per cent to 582,000 tons and iron ore by 8.3 per cent to 204 tons in March.
The production of other important minerals showing negative growth includes gold, manganese ore, lead, limestone, zinc, natural gas, crude oil and lignite.
Lignite production amounted to 42 lakh tons, natural gas (used) to 2323 million cum, crude oil to 27 lakh tons and bauxite to 16.34 lakh tons in March.
