Lok Sabha Question No. 5637 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Demand and Supply of Uranium
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Gyaneshwar Patil, Nayab Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5637

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF URANIUM

## 5637.  SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL: SHRI NAYAB SINGH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the scheme proposed by the Government to increase Uranium resources  and  supply  chain  in  the  country  after  assessment  of  long-term demand and supply of uranium through indigenous sources;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government is taking any steps for exploration of Uranium at new sites in order to reduce the dependence upon its import;  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) & (b)  The  Atomic  Minerals  Directorate  for  Exploration  and  Research  (AMD),  a constituent  unit  of  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  (DAE),  has  the  mandate  to identify, evaluate and augment mineral resources of uranium in the country.

To ensure unhindered indigenous supply and speedy augmentation of uranium resources,  AMD  is  carrying  out  integrated  and  multi-disciplinary  exploration (including heliborne and ground geophysical surveys, ground geological, geochemical and radiometric surveys and drilling) in identified thrust areas of the country by utilising state-of-the-art technology.

Particulars of exploration activities carried out by AMD during XII th plan,  3  year Action  Agenda  (2017-18  to  2019-20)  and  4  year  Strategy  Period  (2020-21  to 2023-24) as on February, 2022 are given in the Table -1 .

- Uranium fuel requirement for the reactors which are under domestic safeguards is  adequately  met  by  Uranium  Corporation  of  India  Limited  (UCIL),  a  Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Time to time, projects which include capacity expansion of some of existing units as well as for establishing  new  projects  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  are  planned  for maintaining sustained supply.
- (c) & (d)  Yes  Sir.  During  the  recent  years  AMD  has  initiated  exploration  in  the following new areas.
- i) Andhra Pradesh: Rachakuntapalle  -  Nallagondavarpalle  -  Bakkanagaripalle Sivramapuram - Pincha, YSR Kadapa district; Sarangapalli - Madinapadu Tangeda - Bommarajupalle - Mincahalpadu, Kurnool district.
- ii) Karnataka: Hulkal - Halbhavi - Madnal, Yadgir district.
- iii) Jharkhand: Kudada -Kanyaluka -Pathargora -Khadandungri, East Singhbhum district.
- iv) Assam: Buriganga, Hojai district.
- v) Arunachal Pradesh: Rungang - Kaying - Pagla Nala, West Siang district.
- vi) Rajasthan: Geratiyon ki Dhani - Kundala, Sikar district; Malikhera - Barliyas, Bhilwara and Chittaurgarh districts.
- vii) Himachal  Pradesh: Rajpura  -  Nari  -  Maslana  -  Parah  -  Badoh  -  Gagret  Ambota, Una district;  Loharkar  -  Chamsai  -  Farsi  -  Sibal  -  Galot,  Hamirpur district;  Chhinjra  -  Dharmor,  Kullu  district;  Tileli  -  Cha  Ka  Dora  -  Rohani, Mandi district.
- viii) Madhya  Pradesh: Maharampura  -  Sitla  Ka  Khoh  -  Saraipura  -  Jorasi, Gwalior  district;    Dharangmau  -  Khapa  -  Jhapri  -  Kalapani,    Betul  district; Lohara - Dongargaon, Balaghat district.
- ix) Chhattisgarh: Magarkund  -  Koilari,  Rajnandgaon  and  Kawardha  districts; Juba - Banjhapali,  Mahasamund district; Nagarda - Ghuichua - Hardii Tikra Kasipani  -  Ghoghra  -  Salihabhata,  Korba  and  Janjgir  -  Champa  districts; Kurludih - Talkeshwarpur - Jhapar,  Balrampur district.
- x)  Maharashtra: Bijepar  -  Pandharwanitola  -  Nawatola  -  Halbitola,  Gondia district.

- xi) Uttar Pradesh: Anjangira - Kudar - Nimna - Satbahini - Murratola - Lilasi Barwatola - Dighul - Sewadand  - Jogiya Pahri - Gariya - Lambhi - Baran -

River, Sonbhadra district. xii) Haryana: Dochana-Simla, Mahendragarh district.

*****

Table 1: Uranium Exploration activities of AMD

| Uranium Exploration Activities                     | XII th plan                                                  | Three Year Action Agenda (2017-18 to 2019-20)   | Four Year Strategy Period 2020-24 (As on February, 2022)   |
|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                    | 2012-13 to 2016-17                                           |                                                 |                                                            |
| URANIUM INVESTIGATIONS                             | URANIUM INVESTIGATIONS                                       | URANIUM INVESTIGATIONS                          | URANIUM INVESTIGATIONS                                     |
| 1. Heliborne Survey (Line km.)                     | 1,36,432.37                                                  | 1,09,909.64                                     | 76,623.26                                                  |
| 2. Reconnaissance Survey                           | (sq. km.) 31,505.00                                          | 21,026.40                                       | 11,744.00                                                  |
| 3. Geochemical Survey (sq. km.)                    | 16,176.00                                                    | 14,427.00                                       | 10,436.00                                                  |
| 4. Detailed Survey (sq. km.)                       | 1265.24                                                      | 1,078.10                                        | 602.40                                                     |
| 5. Ground Geophysical Survey (sq. km.)             | 2,957.42                                                     | 3,140.30                                        | 2,090.00                                                   |
| 6. Drilling Departmental (m) (Uranium Contract (m) | + RMRE) 4,22,151.85 5,24,638.55                              | 2,64,509.10 4,57,359.95                         | 1,62,287.95 2,42,741.70                                    |
| 7.                                                 | Augmentation of Uranium Resource [tonne (t) U 3 O 8 ] 73,776 | 85,814                                          | 34,442                                                     |