ID :
26282
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 11:07
Auther :

India has 113,000 tonnes of uranium reserves, Govt tells RS

New Delhi, Oct 23 (PTI) India has proven uranium reserves of 113,000 tonnes and the Government was making efforts to expedite mining of the mineral while also looking at imports to bridge the demand-supply gap.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour,
Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj
Chavan said currently the law allows only Central Government
companies in the field of atomic energy and uranium mining.

"Private activities are not permitted by current
legislation," he said.

Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research
(A.M.D.) has identified 130,000 tonnes of uranium reserves in
Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, he said.

Indigenous mining, he said, was being expedited with some
work in Jharkhand being outsourced and a new mine opened in
Andhra Pradesh.

Jharkhand accounts for nearly half of the total reserves.

"Concerted efforts have been made to develop mines in
other states over the last several years and are expected to
produce positive results in spite of difficulties such as land
acquisition, mining lease, rehabilitation or resettlement of
affected persons, environmental and forest clearances and
public consensus," he said.

Chavan said while there was no slackening of efforts to
fully tap all potentially viable uranium resources, efforts to
access foreign resources should be seen as efforts to bring in
additionality to domestic resources.

"Fuel demand-supply mismatch has led to operations of
nuclear power plants at reduced capacity," he said explaining
why Government was looking at importing uranium.

"We are open to starting joint uranium mining project in
other countries. We have received some offers," the Minister
said but refused to give details.

Chavan said the quality of domestic uranium was inferior
compared to imported fuel but the Government was putting in
all efforts to exploit every kilogram of reserves.

Normative cost of atomic power was Rs 2.28 per unit and
the cost was quite competitive, he said.

"(Only) pit-head coal-based power plants will be more
economically viable," he added. PTI A.N.Z.
RKM

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