Lok Sabha Question No. 1559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Enhancement of ElectricityPower Generation Through Nuclear Energy
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Jugal Kishore, Shri E T Mohammed Basheer, Shri Karan Bhushan Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1559

ANSWERED ON 31/07/2024

## ENHANCEMENT OF ELECTRICITY POWER  GENERATION THROUGH NUCLEAR ENERGY

## 1559.  SHRI KARAN BHUSHAN SINGH SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) Whether the Government has taken steps or formulated any schemes for enhancing electricity  or  overall  power  generation  through  nuclear  energy  and if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  reduce  dependency  on  import  of nuclear fuel; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) A capacity addition programme to increase the installed capacity to 22480MW by 203132 from 8180MW at present is under implementation.
- (b) & (c) Yes.   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.      As on June, 2024, AMD has established 4,23,222 tonne (t) in-situ U3O8 resource in 47 uranium deposits located in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Uttarakhand,  Himachal  Pradesh  and Maharashtra.  Statewise details of the uranium resource are given in Table 1 .

Uranium  Corporation  of  India  Limited  (UCIL)  a  Public  Sector  Undertaking  under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is actively perusing the opening of new deposits in the states of Jharkhand,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Karnataka  and  Rajasthan  to  increase the

supply of indigenous nuclear fuel for the reactors.  The planned increase in production of domestic uranium will reduce the dependency on foreign uranium supplies.  The preproject  activities  for  the  opening  of  new  deposits  in  the  states  of  Jharkhand,  Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan are in different stages of implementation.

Table 1. State-wise Details of in-situ Uranium Oxide Resource as on 30.06.2024

| State          | District            | Name of the deposit                | U 3 O 8 Resource (tonne)   | Status                              |
|----------------|---------------------|------------------------------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh | YSR                 | Tummalapalle Group                 | 2,49,459                   | Existing mine (Under investigation) |
| Andhra Pradesh | Guntur              | Koppunuru                          | 2,761                      | Under investigation                 |
| Andhra Pradesh | Sub-total:          | Sub-total:                         | 2,52,220                   |                                     |
| Telangana      | Nalgonda            | Lambapur                           | 1,450                      | Planned mining centre               |
| Telangana      | Nalgonda            | Peddagattu                         | 7,585                      | Planned mining centre               |
| Telangana      | Nalgonda            | Chitrial                           | 9,515                      | Planned mining centre               |
| Telangana      | Sub-total:          | Sub-total:                         | 18,550                     |                                     |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Jaduguda                           | 8,038                      | Existing mine                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Jaduguda North - Baglasai - Mechua | 20,857                     | 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                  | 10,723                     | Extension of existing mine          |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Singridungri- Banadungri           | 9,856                      | 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                          | 3,170                      | Small deposit                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Nimdih                             | 815                        | Small deposit                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Rajgaon                            | 1,200                      | Small deposit                       |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Rajdah                             | 1,019                      | Under investigation                 |
| Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum      | Kudada                             | 3,565                      | Under investigation                 |
| Jharkhand      | Saraikela- Kharswan | Bangurdih                          | 1,785                      | Small deposit                       |
| Jharkhand      | Sub-total:          | Sub-total:                         | 98,967                     |                                     |

| District               | Name of the deposit    | U 3 O 8 Resource (tonne)   | Status                                          |
|------------------------|------------------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| South West Khasi Hills | KPM (Domiasiat)        | 9,500                      | Planned mining centre                           |
| South West Khasi Hills | Wahkyn - Wahkut        | 9,764                      | Exploratory mining planned                      |
| South West Khasi Hills | Gomaghat- Phlangdiloin | 1,000                      | Small deposit                                   |
| South West Khasi Hills | Tyrnai                 | 600                        | Small deposit                                   |
| South West Khasi Hills | Lostoin                | 869                        | Small deposit                                   |
| South West Khasi Hills | Umthongkut             | 1,535                      | Small deposit                                   |
| Sub-total:             | Sub-total:             | 23,268                     |                                                 |
| Sikar                  | Rohil                  | 8,813                      | Exploratory mining centre (Under investigation) |
| Sikar                  | Rohil (West)           | 1,086                      | Under investigations                            |
| Sikar                  | Geratiyon Ki Dhani     | 1,902                      | Under investigations                            |
| Jhunjhunu              | Jahaz                  | 3,570                      | Under investigation                             |
| Udaipur                | Umra                   | 1,160                      | Small deposit                                   |
| Sub-total:             | Sub-total:             | 16,531                     |                                                 |
| Yadgiri                | Gogi                   | 4,267                      | Exploratory mining centre                       |
| Yadgiri                | Kanchankayi            | 2,194                      | Under investigation                             |
| Yadgiri                | Hulkal                 | 800                        | Under investigation                             |
| South Canara           | Walkunji-Yellakki      | 415                        | Small deposit                                   |
| Sub-total:             | Sub-total:             | 7,676                      |                                                 |
| Rajnandgaon            | Bodal                  | 1,530                      | Small deposit                                   |
| Rajnandgaon            | Bhandaritola           | 518                        | Small deposit                                   |
| Surguja                | Jajawal                | 1,438                      | Small deposit                                   |
| Surguja                | Dumath - Dhabi         | 500                        | Small deposit                                   |
| Sub-total:             | Sub-total:             | 3,986                      |                                                 |
| Sonbhadra              | Naktu                  | 785                        | Under investigation                             |
| Pradesh Sub-total:     | Pradesh Sub-total:     | 785                        |                                                 |
| Rudraprayag            | Pokhri-Tunji           | 100                        | Small deposit                                   |
| Sub-total:             | Sub-total:             | 100                        |                                                 |
| Una                    | Rajpura                | 364                        | Under investigation                             |
| Shimla                 | Kasha-Kaladi           | 200                        | Small deposit                                   |
| Mandi                  | Tileli                 | 220                        | Small deposit                                   |
| Sub-total:             | Sub-total:             | 784                        |                                                 |
| Gondia                 | Mogarra                | 355                        | Small deposit                                   |
| Sub-total:             | Sub-total:             | 355                        |                                                 |
| Grand total:           | Grand total:           | 4,23,222                   |                                                 |

*****