New Delhi: A turnaround in crude oil output and higher production by refineries pushed the growth of six infrastructure industries to 8.6% in 2006-07 as against 6.2% in the previous year.

The crude production, which had declined 5.3% in 2005-06, increased by 5.6% in 2006-07. Similarly

In March 2007, the growth of the core sector was 10% as against 7.1% in the same month last year.

The increase in growth during the last month of 2006-07 was due to better performance of steel, whose production increased by 15%. Besides, electricity grew at 8% and refinery throughput at 13.4%.

The growth in production of cement, however, fell in March 2007 to 5.5% from 17% in the same period last year. During 2006-07, the growth in the cement production slowed down to 9.1% from 12.4% in 2005-06.

Though coal production was up 10% in March, the overall increase in the entire financial year was 5.9% as against 6.6% in 2005-06.

Electricity sector grew 7.3% in 2006-07 as against 5.1% in 2005-06. Import of power from Bhutan also contributed to the growth.

Steel production grew at a marginally slower rate of 10.9% in 2006-07 against 11.2% in 2005-06.