Lok Sabha Question No. 2324 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: Shortage of Nuclear Fuel
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, B.V. NAYAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2324 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.12.2018

## SHORTAGE OF NUCLEAR FUEL

2324.  SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: SHRI B.V. NAIK:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is shortage of nuclear fuel in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  reasons  therefor  and  the  steps  taken  by  Government  to  ensure adequate supply of nuclear fuel;
- (c) the time by which the country is likely to become self-dependent in nuclear fuel availability;
- (d) whether  Government  has  signed  any  MoU  with  foreign  countries  for  import  of uranium or 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  AND PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) 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.
- (b) Does not arise in view of (a) above.
- (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 tenfold  rise  in  uranium  production  in  next  15  years  (by  2031-2032).  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) At present, Directorate of Purchase and Stores (DPS), a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy has signed contracts with firms from Kazakhstan and  Canada  for  supply  of  Natural  Uranium  Ore  concentrate.  Apart  from  these ongoing  contracts,  DPS  completed  the  execution  of  contracts  with  firms  from France and Kazakhstan for supply of Natural Uranium Ore concentrate and with firms  from  Russia  for  supply  of  Natural  Uranium  di  Oxide  pellets  and  enriched Uranium di Oxide pellets.

The details of imported uranium and expenditure incurred thereon during the last three years and the current year is as under:-

|   Sl. No. | Agency                               | Description                              | Year    |   Quantity received in MTU |   Expenditure incurred ( in crores) |
|-----------|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|---------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------|
|         1 | M/s JSC NAC, Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan | Uranium Ore Concentrate                  | 2016-17 |                   1923.66  |                              893.76 |
|         1 | M/s JSC NAC, Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan | Uranium Ore Concentrate                  | 2017-18 |                   1490     |                              592.44 |
|         1 | M/s JSC NAC, Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan | Uranium Ore Concentrate                  | 2018-19 |                    392.753 |                                0.17 |
|         2 | M/s CAMECO Inc., Canada              | Uranium Ore Concentrate                  | 2015-16 |                    250.743 |                              158.28 |
|         2 | M/s CAMECO Inc., Canada              | Uranium Ore Concentrate                  | 2016-17 |                   1233.68  |                              534.51 |
|         2 | M/s CAMECO Inc., Canada              | Uranium Ore Concentrate                  | 2017-18 |                    989.452 |                              373.83 |
|         3 | M/s JSC TVEL, Russia                 | Enriched Uranium Pellets                 | 2015-16 |                     42.15  |                              303.65 |
|         3 | M/s JSC TVEL, Russia                 | Fuel Pellets of Natural Uranium Di-oxide | 2015-16 |                    303.787 |                              565.13 |
|         3 | M/s JSC TVEL, Russia                 | Fuel Pellets of Natural Uranium Di-oxide | 2016-17 |                    187.334 |                              395.32 |

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