New Delhi: Driven by higher production of coal, lignite, bauxite and magnesite among others, the cumulative mineral production in the April-January period of the current financial year rose 14.2 per cent year-on-year, data released by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) showed. The index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector for the month of January, 2022 at 124.7 was 2.8 per cent higher as compared to the level during the same month last year. As per the Ministry of Mines data, coal production during January, 2022 was 796 lakh tonnes, lignite 46 lakh tonnes, bauxite 2,157,000 tonnes and chromite 398,000 tonnes. The production of important minerals showing negative growth during January 2022 included limestone (minus 1.2 per cent), petroleum (crude) (-2.4), Zinc conc (-2.9), iron ore (-4.9) and manganese ore (-10). The production of important minerals showing positive growth during January, 2022 over January, 2021 included magnesite (36.6 per cent), lignite (25.2), bauxite (13.4), gold (13.3), natural gas (11.7) and coal (8.2). UNI NK ING
