Sugar production in Maharashtra crosses 102 lakh tonnes
The Sugarcane crushing season is in its final phase in Maharashtra, with 67 sugar mills having concluded operations till March 17, compared to 143 mills during the same period in the previous season, according to data from the Sugar Commissionerate.
Sugar recovery has also witnessed a marginal increase this season, standing at 10.15 percent as of March 17, compared to 9.96 percent last year.
Of the 207 sugar mills that participated in crushing this season, including 103 cooperative and 104 private mills, a total of 1009.4 lakh tonnes of sugarcane have been crushed so far, resulting in the production of 1024.62 lakh quintals (102.46 lakh tonnes) of sugar.
In comparison, 211 mills had crushed 1036.39 lakh tonnes of sugarcane and produced 1032.3 lakh quintals (103.23 lakh tonnes) of sugar in the previous season during the same period.
12 coal miners perish in Harnai methane blast
A powerful methane gas explosion at Khost coal mines in the Harnai district claimed the lives of 12 miners, while eight others miraculously survived.
The tragedy unfolded some 120 kilometres east of Quetta, in the Zardalo area, on Tuesday night as miners worked deep within a private coal mine.
The explosion, which occurred roughly 1,000 feet below the surface, not only caused a massive fire but also led to the collapse of a significant portion of the mine, trapping the miners inside.
U.S. milk production up again
The National Ag Statistics Service says production in the 24 major dairy states totaled 17.4 billion pounds in February, which is 2.4 percent higher than February of 2023. Total U.S. production was 18.1 billion pounds in February.
The one caveat to the new February figures is because of the leap year. USDA says adjusting production for the additional day in February shows production was actually down 1 percent on a per-day basis.
Production per cow in those 24 states averaged 1,955 pounds in February, 58 pounds more than a year ago.
The number of milk cows was 9.33 million head, or 89 thousand fewer than a year ago, but 10 thousand head more than January.
Iran signs $13 billion in contracts to boost oil production
Iran has signed $13 billion in deals with domestic service companies with intentions to add 350,000 B/D of new oil production from six major fields over the next 12 months, as Chinese demand continues to drive Iranian oil exports.
A contract-signing ceremony broadcast on state TV on 17 March coincided with the 73rd anniversary of the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry and the start of the Persian new year (the 13-day Nowrus festival which begins 20 March).
The Iranian National Oil Company (NIOC) signed the largest of the agreements, a $11.5 billion, 20-year contract for integrated development of Iran’s largest oil field, Azadegan, with the Dasht Azadegan Arvand Oil and Gas Development Company, according to the Iranian oil ministry’s Shana news service.
The project aims to more than double production to 550,000 B/D from 205,000 B/D at Azadegan which has an estimated 32 billion bbl of oil in place. Field development is ongoing with the drilling of 185 new wells of which 60 were recently put into operation, according to Iran’s oil ministry.
Longjing tea harvest to begin, with tenderest leaves picked within two weeks
Hangzhou farmers officially started to pick Longjing tea on March 20, and the tenderest leaves must be collected within two weeks. The peak picking period is anticipated to commence on March 27.
“Last month, the lower than average temperatures and cold waves caused the delay of picking, about one week later than previous years,” explained Shao Jinghua, a tea expert from Hangzhou Agriculture Bureau.
“However, the trees started to sprout from March 2. That means the extreme weather hasn’t impacted the tea too much.”
The first crop of tender leaves comes from Longjing 43, a national-level variety that is selected from the vast Longjing production area. The other tea trees will be plucked from March 27.
“In fact, moderate rainfall and favorable weather below 25 degrees Celsius in late February helped the tea trees accumulate nutrients and in return increase the quality of the tea,” Shao added.
Uzbekistan, China eye joint uranium exploration
A state-owned uranium producer in Uzbekistan is in talks with China Nuclear Uranium, also state-run, on the possibility of working together to develop a pair of mines.
Navoiuran said in a statement on March 12 that the black shale uranium deposits under consideration — Jantuar and Madanli — are both in Uzbekistan’s Navoi region. Black shale uranium refers to uranium deposits found within black shale rock formations.
Navoiuran has been operating since 2022, when it was hived off from the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Plant.
The tie-up with China Nuclear Uranium is part of a broader agenda promoted by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who issued a resolution in July 2022 setting a national uranium production target of 7,100 tons by 2030, up from around 3,500 tons in 2021.
In seeking to hit that target, the government has actively solicited international partners.
Global silver production to grow by 4.1pc in 2024
Global silver mine production is expected to rebound in 2024, with a 4.1 percent growth rate to 916.1 million ounces.
The increase will predominantly be fuelled by the resumption and ramp-up of operations that were temporarily halted in 2023.
In 2024, overall anticipated rises in production in Mexico, the US, China, and Russia, will offset declines in Peru, Argentina, and Kazakhstan.
Mexico accounted for 24.1 percent (211.6 million ounces) of the total global silver supply in 2023.
Despite a 3.2 percent dip in output in 2023 due to operational disruptions at major mines, Mexico’s output is expected to recover in 2024, with forecast production of 224 million ounces.