The Hindu Business Line : Infrastructure growth dips to 5.1 pc in May

Factfile
Coal production was stagnant during May 2006 at 30.7 mt in contrast to an 11.2 per cent growth registered in May 2005.
Electricity generation grew by just 4.7 per cent from 10.3 per cent a year ago.
Growth in steel production was lower at 6.4 per cent in May this year compared to11.1 per cent in the same month of the last fiscal.

New Delhi , July 19

Sluggish coal production and a slowdown in the power, cement and steel sectors pulled down year-on-year infrastructure growth to 5.1 per cent in May 2006 as compared to 8.1 per cent in the same month last fiscal.

During the April-May period this fiscal, the core sectors logged a growth rate of 5.9 per cent, down from the 7.1 per cent recorded during the corresponding period of 2005-06.

The overall growth registered by the six core sectors during May would have been even lower but for a rebound in crude oil production and petroleum refining sectors. The two sectors rose one per cent and 11.9 per cent respectively, as against a negative growth of 1.9 per cent and six per cent in May 2005, according to Government data released today.

Coal production was stagnant during May 2006 at 30.7 million tonne (mt ), in contrast to an 11.2 per cent growth registered in May 2005, while electricity generation grew by just 4.7 per cent from 10.3 per cent a year ago. Growth in steel production was lower at 6.4 per cent in May this year compared to 11.1 per cent in the same month of the last fiscal. Cement production too rose by a much lower rate of 6.3 per cent as against a strong 15.3 per cent last year.

During April-May 2006, crude oil production declined by 0.4 per cent as against a decline of 1.2 per cent in the same period last year. Refining throughput was higher by 12.5 per cent as compared to a negative 6.8 per cent last fiscal.

Coal production grew 1.6 per cent, as against 9.7 per cent in April-May 2005 and power generation at 5.3 per cent from 6.7 per cent last year. Cement production rose by a lower 7.5 per cent compared to 13.9 per cent last year, while steel production grew by 8.9 per cent as against 12.6 per cent in April-May 2005.

Crude oil production rose during May this year to 2.858 mt as against 2.830 mt a year ago.

During April-May this year, production stood at 5.610 mt as compared to 5.632 mt last fiscal. Refinery throughput in May 2006 stood at 10.771 mt as opposed to 9.624 mt a year ago. In the first two months, refining output was 20.890 mt compared to 18.570 mt in 2005.

Coal output at 30.7 mt was same as in May last year, while April-May production this year stood marginally higher at 62.2 mt from 61.2 mt last fiscal.

The country generated 55.422 billion units of electricity in May as against 52.942 billion units a year ago. Cumulative generation stood at 108.810 billion units from 103.355 billion units in April-May of 2005. Finished steel production grew to 3.538 mt during May compared to 3.325 mt a year ago. Total steel production so far this fiscal stood at 7.096 mt compared to 6.602 mt in the same period of the last fiscal.

Cement production rose to 13.426 mt in May 2006 as against 12.630 mt in May 2005. Overall production in the first two months this year was 27.091 mt compared to 24.870 mt in April-May 2005, according to the official data.