Lok Sabha Question No. 6189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Procurement of Nuclear Fuels
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6189

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## PROCUREMENT OF NUCLEAR FUELS

6189.   DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has held any talks with Uzbekistan and other  countries to procure nuclear fuel as part of its plan to create a strategic uranium reserve;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  Australia has agreed to supply uranium to the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof;

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) Consequent upon the  Civil  Nuclear  cooperation,  Department  of  Atomic  Energy (DAE) has been importing Uranium to meet the fuel requirements of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguarded Nuclear Power Plants.  The details of quantities of Uranium imported so far since the year 2009 is as follows:-

|   Sr. No. | Firm/ Country                      | Date of entering into Contract   | Total Quantity to be procured as per Contract   |
|-----------|------------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | M/s. AREVA, France                 | 17.12.2008                       | 300 MT of Natural Uranium Ore Concentrate.      |
|         2 | M/s. PJSC TVEL Corporation, Russia | 11.02.2009                       | 2000 MT of Natural Uranium Oxide Pellets.       |
|         2 | M/s. PJSC TVEL Corporation, Russia | 11.02.2009                       | 58 MT of Enriched Uranium Oxide Pellets.        |
|         2 | M/s. PJSC TVEL Corporation, Russia | 03.03.2015                       | 42 MT of Enriched Uranium Oxide Pellets.        |

|   Sr. No. | Firm/ Country                                          | Date of entering into Contract   | Total Quantity to be procured as per Contract                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         3 | M/s. Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Combinat, Uzbekistan | 28.09.2013                       | 2000 MT of Natural Uranium Ore Concentrate. Supply of nuclear fuel from M/s. NMMC, Uzbekistan has not yet commenced due to issues related to dispatch and transportation of the material. |
|         4 | M/s. Cameco, Canada                                    | 15.04.2015                       | The Contract permits procurement of a minimum of 2750 MT and maximum 5500 MT of Natural Uranium Ore Concentrate.                                                                          |
|         5 | M/s. JSC NAC KazatomProm, Kazakhstan                   | 12.11.2009                       | 2100 MT of Natural Uranium Ore Concentrate.                                                                                                                                               |
|         5 | M/s. JSC NAC KazatomProm, Kazakhstan                   | 08.07.2015                       | The Contract permits procurement of a minimum of 3750 MT and maximum 7000 MT of Natural Uranium Ore Concentrate.                                                                          |

(c) Yes, Sir.

(d) Negotiations  are  underway  with  M/s.  BHP  Billiton,  Australia  and  M/s.    Heathgate Resources, Australia.   However, no contract has been concluded so far.

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