Lok Sabha Question No. 1916 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-07
Subject: Shortage of Atomic Fuel
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN, PR. SENTHILNATHAN, V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1916

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.03.2018

## SHORTAGE OF ATOMIC FUEL

1916.  SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R.K.: SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN: SHRI PR. SENTHILNATHAN: SHRIMATI V. SATHYABAMA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  a  shortage  of  fuel  for  Atomic/Nuclear  power  plants  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the time by which the country is likely to become self-dependent in the field of atomic fuel;
- (d) whether the Government has signed any MoU with foreign countries for the import of Uranium and Nuclear Fuel in any form; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  quantity  of  Uranium  imported  from  various countries and expenditure incurred thereon during each of the last three years and the current year, country-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b)  No,  Sir.  The  Government    has    provided  fuel  from  both  indigenous  and imported  sources  in  required  quantities  for  operation  of  nuclear  power reactors at their rated power.
- (c) As per the vision plan prepared, in order to fulfil the requirement of Uranium to  fuel  nuclear  power  plants,  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  will  achieve nearly  ten-fold  rise  in  uranium  production  in  next  15  years  (by  20312032).  The uranium mining projects have been planned in three phases. On

completion of the projects in first phase, it is expected to produce 3.5 times of existing uranium production by the 12 th year.  On completion of the projects in second phase, uranium production is expected to achieve seven times of existing  production.   With  the  completion  of  phase  three  projects  uranium production of the country is expected to record ten-fold increase by 2031-32.

- (d) Yes Sir.
- (e) Consequent  upon  the  Civil  Nuclear  cooperation,  DAE  has  been  importing Uranium to   meet the fuel requirements of IAEA Safeguarded Nuclear Power Plants.    The  quantity  of  uranium  imported  from  various  countries  and expenditures  incurred  thereon  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current year, country-wise and year-wise are mentioned below:

|                          | M/s JSC NAC Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan (Uranium Ore Concentrate)   | M/s JSC NAC Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan (Uranium Ore Concentrate)   | M/s Cameco Canada (Uranium Ore Concentrate)   | M/s Cameco Canada (Uranium Ore Concentrate)   | M/s JSC TVEL Corporation, Russia (Natural Uranium Oxide Pellets)   | M/s JSC TVEL Corporation, Russia (Natural Uranium Oxide Pellets)   |
|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                     | Quantity (MT)                                                   | Cost (Rs.in crores)                                             | Quantity (MT)                                 | Cost (Rs. in crores)                          | Quantity (MT)                                                      | Cost (Rs. in crores)                                               |
| 2014-15                  | 283.419                                                         | 216.93                                                          | Nil                                           | Nil                                           | 296.548                                                            | 541.55                                                             |
| 2015-16                  | Nil                                                             | Nil                                                             | 250.743                                       | 158.28                                        | 303.787                                                            | 565.17                                                             |
| 2015-16                  |                                                                 |                                                                 |                                               |                                               | 42.150 *                                                           | 303.64                                                             |
| 2016-17                  | 999.807                                                         | 590.01                                                          | 1233.681                                      | 543.51                                        | 187.334                                                            | 395.29                                                             |
| 2017-18 (up to 28-12-17) | 923.856                                                         | 332.52                                                          | 989.452                                       | 373.82                                        | Nil                                                                | Nil                                                                |

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