New Delhi: The index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector for the month of May 2023 stood at 128.1, 6.4% higher compared to the level during May 2022.

As per the provisional figures of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), the cumulative growth for the period April- May 2022-23 over the corresponding period of the previous year is 5.8 % percent.

Production level of important minerals in May, 2023 were: coal 762 lakh, lignite 35 lakh, petroleum (crude) 25 lakh, iron ore 253 lakh, limestone 387 lakh tonnes each, natural gas (utilized) 2838 million cu. m, bauxite 2386000, chromite 372000, copper conc. 9000, lead conc. 33000, manganese ore 329000, zinc conc. 133000, phosphorite 140000, and magnesite 11000 tonnes each and gold 97 kg.

Important minerals showing positive growth during May, 2023 over May, 2022 include: manganese ore (40.4%), magnesite (28.2%), copper conc. (24.4%), chromite (16.3%), iron ore (13.6%), limestone (10.1%), lead conc. (9.7%), coal (7%), bauxite (4.8%) and zinc conc. (2.9%).

At the same time, other important minerals showing negative growth include: natural gas(U) (0.3%), petroleum (crude) (-1.9%), phosphorite (-6.3%) and lignite (-17.7%).