Gold output falls 6.6% in Apr-Feb

Gold production in the country during the 11-month period ended February 29, 2008 fell 6.6 per cent to 10.93 tonnes from 11.70 tonnes in the corresponding period last year, according todata released by the ministry of mines.

In February, India - the largest consumer of the yellow metal - produced 829 kg of gold, nearly four times the production target of 222 kg. Of the total gold produced last month, Hutti Gold Mines produced 209 kg and while Hindalco Industries contributed the major chunk with 620 kg.

Hutti Gold Mines is the only company in India that produces gold by processing it from ore. The other two gold producers - Hindalco and Hindustan Copper - produce gold as a by-product, while processing copper.

Copper output
During the 11-month period (April to February), India produced 642,915 tonnes of copper, up 11 per cent from the year-ago period. According to estimates, the country produced 60,439 tonnes of copper cathode in February alone, up 71 per cent from the targeted production of 35,348 tonnes.

The country's April-February aluminium production stood at 1.13 million tonnes, up 7.6 per cent, while the zinc output was 397,800 tonnes, up 15.4 per cent. The production of lead grew 28 per cent at 52,276 tonnes. Last month, the country produced 99,200 tonnes aluminium, 41,490 tonnes zinc and 5,399 tonnes lead.

Geological survey
According to the ministry data, 175.35 sq km of large-scale mapping and 5,253.7 m of drilling was carried out in February as against a monthly target of 195.20 sq km and 6,895.35 m, respectively.