Lok Sabha Question No. 2789 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Production of Uranium
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2789 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## PRODUCTION OF URANIUM

## 2789. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the current annual production of uranium in the country is enough to meet the  annual  fuel  requirement  of  all  the  operational  uranium-based  Nuclear  Power Plants and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) If  not,  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  explore  alternative fuel/technologies /imported fuel for the said purpose;
- (c) the details of estimated uranium reserves and extraction potential in the country, uranium  mine-wise  and  State/UT-wise  and  the  details  of  the  uranium  extracted during each of the last three years, uranium mine-wise and State/UT-wise along with the funds allocated and utilised thereon during the said period; and
- (d) whether the country is importing uranium from other countries and if so, the details thereof during the given period including the quantity  of imported uranium along with the funds spend thereon, country-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)to (d) Current annual production of uranium in the country is not adequate to meet the annual  fuel  requirement  of  all  the  operational  uranium  based  nuclear  power plants . However, we are continuously exploring the possibility of alternate fuel based on thorium in this regard for which we have enough reserves. Further, Department is importing uranium from different countries like Canada, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia also.

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, thorium, niobium, tantalum,  beryllium,  lithium,  zirconium,  titanium  and  rare  earths  containing uranium  and  thorium  in  the  country.  As  on  November,  2021  AMD  has established 3,58,496 tonne (t) in situ Uranium Oxide. The state-wise details of the uranium resources identified by AMD are given in Annexure - A . It is not in the public interest to disclose the details of Uranium extraction.

The  details  of  imported  uranium  along  with  the  fund  spent  thereon,  countrywise are attached as Annexure - B.

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## Annexure - A

## STATE-WISE DETAILS OF THE ESTIMATED URANIUM RESOURCES

| State          | District            | Name of the deposit          | Resource (tonne)   | Category                            |
|----------------|---------------------|------------------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------|
|                |                     |                              | U 3 O 8            |                                     |
| Andhra Pradesh | Kadapa              | Tummalapalle Group           | 2,06,124           | Existing mine (Under investigation) |
| Andhra Pradesh | Guntur              | Koppunuru                    | 2,761              | Estimated Resource                  |
| Andhra Pradesh | Sub-total           | Sub-total                    | 2,08,885           |                                     |
| Telangana      | Nalgonda            | Lambapur                     | 1,450              | Planned mining centre               |
| Telangana      | Nalgonda            | Peddagattu                   | 7,585              | Planned mining centre               |
| Telangana      | Nalgonda            | Chitrial                     | 9,515              | Under investigation                 |
| Telangana      | Sub-total           | Sub-total                    | 18,550             |                                     |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Jaduguda                     | 8,038              | Existing mine                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Jaduguda North               | 6,810              | Under investigation                 |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Bhatin                       | 1,700              | Existing mine                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Narwapahar (NWP) + NWP Extn. | 11,780             | Existing mine                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Narwapahar Deeper            | 8,034              | Extension of existing mine          |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Turamdih Group               | 11,510             | Existing mine                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Banduhurang                  | 6,489              | Existing mine                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Bagjata                      | 1,860              | Existing mine                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Mohuldih                     | 3,330              | Existing mine                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Garadih                      | 1,270              | Small deposit                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Kanyaluka                    | 1,970              | Small deposit                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Nimdih                       | 815                | Small deposit                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Rajgaon                      | 1,200              | Small deposit                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Singridungri- Banadungri     | 12,575             | Under investigation                 |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Rajdah                       | 1,019              | Under investigation                 |
| Jharkhand      | Saraikela- Kharswan | Bangurdih                    | 1,785              | Under investigation                 |
| Jharkhand      | Sub-total           |                              | 80,185             |                                     |

| Meghalaya        |                        | KPM (Domiasiat)        | 9,500    | Planned mining centre                            |
|------------------|------------------------|------------------------|----------|--------------------------------------------------|
| Meghalaya        |                        | Wahkyn - Wahkut        | 9,764    | Exploratory mining planned (Under investigation) |
| Meghalaya        | South West Khasi Hills | Gomaghat- Phlangdiloin | 1,000    | Small deposit                                    |
| Meghalaya        | South West Khasi Hills | Tyrnai                 | 600      | Small deposit                                    |
| Meghalaya        | South West Khasi Hills | Lostoin                | 869      | Small deposit                                    |
| Meghalaya        | South West Khasi Hills | Umthongkut             | 1,535    | Small deposit                                    |
| Meghalaya        | Sub-total              | Sub-total              | 23,268   |                                                  |
| Rajasthan        | Sikar                  | Rohil                  | 8,610    | Exploratory mining centre (Under investigation)  |
| Rajasthan        | Sikar                  | Rohil (West)           | 955      | Small deposit                                    |
| Rajasthan        | Sikar                  | Jahaz                  | 3,570    | Under investigation                              |
| Rajasthan        | Udaipur                | Umra                   | 1,160    | Small deposit                                    |
| Rajasthan        | Sub-total              | Sub-total              | 14,295   |                                                  |
| Karnataka        | Yadgir                 | Gogi                   | 4,267    | Exploratory mining centre                        |
| Karnataka        | Yadgir                 | Kanchankayi - Hulkal   | 2,621    | Under investigation                              |
| Karnataka        | South Canara           | Walkunji-Yellakki      | 415      | Small deposit                                    |
| Karnataka        | Sub-total              | Sub-total              | 7,303    |                                                  |
| Chhattisgarh     | Rajnandgaon            | Bodal                  | 1,530    | Small deposit                                    |
| Chhattisgarh     | Rajnandgaon            | Bhandaritola           | 518      | Small deposit                                    |
| Chhattisgarh     | Surguja                | Jajawal                | 1,438    | Small deposit                                    |
| Chhattisgarh     | Surguja                | Dumath - Dhabi         | 500      | Small deposit                                    |
| Chhattisgarh     | Sub-total              | Sub-total              | 3,986    |                                                  |
| Uttar Pradesh    | Sonbhadra              | Naktu                  | 785      | Under investigation                              |
| Uttar Pradesh    | Sub-total              |                        | 785      |                                                  |
| Uttarakhand      | Rudraprayag            | Pokhri-Tunji           | 100      | Small deposit                                    |
| Uttarakhand      | Sub-total              |                        | 100      |                                                  |
| Himachal Pradesh | Una                    | Rajpura                | 364      | Under investigation                              |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla                 | Kasha-Kaladi           | 200      | Small deposit                                    |
| Himachal Pradesh | Mandi                  | Tileli                 | 220      | Small deposit                                    |
| Himachal Pradesh | Sub-total              |                        | 784      |                                                  |
| Maharashtra      | Gondia                 | Mogarra                | 355      | Small deposit                                    |
| Maharashtra      | Sub-total              |                        | 355      |                                                  |
| Grand total      | Grand total            | Grand total            | 3,58,496 |                                                  |

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## Annexure - B

| SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS   | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS   | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS      | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS      | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS                           | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS                           | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS   | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS   | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS   | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS   | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS   | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS   | SUMMARY OF FUEL IMPORT DETAILS SINCE 2018-19 ONWARDS   |
|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| SR. NO.                                                | YEAR                                                   | ENRICHED URANIUM FUEL PELLETS SUPPLIED BY JSC TVEL RUSSIA | ENRICHED URANIUM FUEL PELLETS SUPPLIED BY JSC TVEL RUSSIA | NATURAL URANIUM ORE CONCENTRATE SUPPLIED BY M/S JSC NAC KAZATOMPROM KAZAKHSTAN | NATURAL URANIUM ORE CONCENTRATE SUPPLIED BY M/S JSC NAC KAZATOMPROM KAZAKHSTAN | CAMECO                                                 | INC., CANADA                                           | TOTAL                                                  | TOTAL                                                  |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |
|                                                        |                                                        | QUANTITY RECD (IN MTU)                                    | EXPENDITURE (IN RS.)                                      | QUANTITY RECD (IN MTU)                                                         | EXPENDITURE (IN RS.)                                                           | QUANTITY RECD (IN MTU)                                 | EXPENDITURE (IN RS.)                                   | QUANTITY RECD (IN MTU)                                 | EXPENDITURE (IN RS.)                                   |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |
|                                                        |                                                        | (A)                                                       | (B)                                                       | (C )                                                                           | (D)                                                                            | (E )                                                   | (F)                                                    | (C + E)                                                | (D + F)                                                |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |
| 1                                                      | 2018-19                                                | 0                                                         | 0                                                         | 2057.87                                                                        | 10109501189                                                                    | 986.6012                                               | 4729009404                                             | 3044.4712                                              | 14838510593                                            |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |
| 2                                                      | 2019-20                                                | 56.78                                                     | 3333106951                                                | 1499.98                                                                        | 7100564369                                                                     | 1001.291                                               | 4758338776                                             | 2501.271                                               | 11858903145                                            |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |
| 3                                                      | 2020-21                                                | 0                                                         | 0                                                         | 999.82                                                                         | 5724414464                                                                     | 1000.479                                               | 6189530677                                             | 2000.298                                               | 11913945141                                            |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |

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