Lok Sabha Question No. 2239 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: NMET
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2239 ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## NMET

†2239.  SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  percentage  of  production  capacity  augmented  each  year  in  the  mining sector during the last nine years, year-wise along with the details thereof; and
- (b) the  works  being  carried  out  for  expediting  the  activities  of  National  Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) along with the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a):  Production  of  keyminerals  under  the  ambit  of  Mineral  Conservation  and Development  Rules  (MCDR)  has  increased  during  the  last  nine  years  reflecting augmented  production  capacity  of  these  minerals.  Production  of  most  of  these minerals is sufficient to meet the requirements of the domestic user industries such as  steel,  aluminium  and  cement.  The  year-wise  quantity  of  production  of  these minerals and their compound annual growth rates (CAGR) over the period 2014-15 to 2022-23 are given at Annexure.
- (b):  The  details  of  works  being  carried  out  for  expediting  the  activities  of  National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) are as under:
- (1)  Apart  from  25  Government  and  public  sector  Notified  Exploration  Agencies,  14 Private Exploration Agencieshave  been  notified.11  projects  have already  been sanctioned to Notified Private Exploration Agencies.
- (2)  First  installment  of  fund  is  being  released  as  advance  to  Exploration  Agencies along with sanction order of the projects sanctioned.
- (3) Financial assistance is being given to the State Directorates of Geology and Mining to strengthen their infrastructure for carrying out exploration activities.
- (4)  The  meeting  of  Technical  Cum  Cost  Committee  is  being  held  every  month  and Executive  Committee  meeting  is  being  held  every  quarter  or  earlier  as  may  be required to expedite sanction of projects.
- (5)  Meetings  are  held  periodically  to  monitor  and  review  the  progress  of  works  and resolve issues, if any.

*****

## Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  of  LS  USQ  No. † 2239  answered  on 02.08.2023regarding 'NMET'

## Production of key MCDR minerals during 2014-15 to 2022-23

| Mineral name     | Quantity of production (million metric ton)   | Quantity of production (million metric ton)   | Quantity of production (million metric ton)   | Quantity of production (million metric ton)   | Quantity of production (million metric ton)   | Quantity of production (million metric ton)   | Quantity of production (million metric ton)   | Quantity of production (million metric ton)   | Quantity of production (million metric ton)   | CAGR (%)   |
|------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|------------|
|                  | 2014- 15                                      | 2015- 16                                      | 2016- 17                                      | 2017- 18                                      | 2018- 19                                      | 2019- 20                                      | 2020- 21                                      | 2021- 22                                      | 2022-23 (P)                                   | CAGR (%)   |
| Iron ore         | 129.32                                        | 158.11                                        | 194.58                                        | 201.42                                        | 206.49                                        | 244.08                                        | 205.04                                        | 253.97                                        | 257.86                                        | 9.0        |
| Limestone        | 293.27                                        | 307.00                                        | 314.67                                        | 340.42                                        | 379.97                                        | 359.46                                        | 349.12                                        | 387.19                                        | 406.16                                        | 4.2        |
| Chromite         | 2.16                                          | 2.92                                          | 3.73                                          | 3.48                                          | 3.97                                          | 3.93                                          | 2.83                                          | 3.79                                          | 3.56                                          | 6.4        |
| Gold ore         | 0.45                                          | 0.56                                          | 0.58                                          | 0.55                                          | 0.57                                          | 0.60                                          | 0.44                                          | 0.47                                          | 0.63                                          | 4.4        |
| Lead & Zinc ore  | 9.36                                          | 10.45                                         | 11.88                                         | 12.61                                         | 13.75                                         | 14.48                                         | 15.46                                         | 16.34                                         | 16.74                                         | 7.5        |
| Bauxite          | 22.49                                         | 28.12                                         | 24.75                                         | 22.79                                         | 23.69                                         | 21.83                                         | 20.38                                         | 22.29                                         | 23.84                                         | 0.7        |
| Lead concentrate | 0.20                                          | 0.26                                          | 0.27                                          | 0.31                                          | 0.36                                          | 0.35                                          | 0.38                                          | 0.37                                          | 0.38                                          | 8.4        |
| Manganese ore    | 2.37                                          | 2.17                                          | 2.40                                          | 2.60                                          | 2.83                                          | 2.91                                          | 2.70                                          | 2.65                                          | 2.83                                          | 2.2        |
| Zinc concentrate | 1.49                                          | 1.47                                          | 1.48                                          | 1.54                                          | 1.46                                          | 1.45                                          | 1.51                                          | 1.59                                          | 1.67                                          | 1.4        |

Source:Indian Bureau of Mines (MCDR returns)

## P: Provisional