Lok Sabha Question No. 4230 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Uranium Imports
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. D. Purandeswari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4230

ANSWERED ON  26/03/2025

## URANIUM IMPORTS

## 4230.    DR. D. PURANDESWARI

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) the details of the key international sources from which India currently imports uranium along with the uranium imported from the aforementioned countries since 2020, country and year-wise;
- (b) the details of the long-term pricing agreements with exporting countries to ensure cost stability in uranium imports;
- (c) the details of the amount allocated, sanctioned, disbursed and expended for importing uranium since 2020 along with the cost of imported uranium compared to domestically mined uranium, year-wise;
- (d) the  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  reduce  India's  dependency  on imported uranium and enhance domestic uranium production; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  any  data  on  the  estimated  future  demand  for  uranium keeping in mind the India's plan to expand its nuclear power plant capacity, if so, the details thereof along with the expected demand and the manner in which the Government plans to meet it?

## ANSWER

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

## (a)  The details of Uranium imported since 2020-21 are given below:

| Year    | Source of Import                      | Source of Import                      |   Quantity in MTU |
|---------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|-------------------|
| 2020-21 | M/s. JSC NAC Kazatomprom - Kazakhstan | M/s. JSC NAC Kazatomprom - Kazakhstan |            999.82 |
| 2020-21 | M/s. Cameco - Canada                  | M/s. Cameco - Canada                  |           1000.48 |
| 2023-24 | M/s. Navoiyuran Company- Republic     | State                                 |            350    |
| 2024-25 | Uzbekistan                            | of                                    |            250    |

(b) At present, the long term pricing agreement is with M/s. 'Navoiyuran' State Company, Uzbekistan. The contract is valid up to 2026. 600 MTU supplied out of the total quantity of 1100MTU.

(c)        The  details  of  the  amount  allocated/sanctioned,  disbursed/expended  for  importing uranium since 2020 are as below:

| Financial Year   |   Amount allocated/ sanctioned (Rs.in crore) |   Amount disbursed/ expended (Rs.in Crore) | Cost per MTU of imported Uranium (Rs.in Crore)   |
|------------------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 2020-21          |                                         1200 |                                    1191.39 | 0.60                                             |
| 2021-22          |                                            0 |                                       0    |                                                  |
| 2022-23          |                                            0 |                                       0    |                                                  |
| 2023-24          |                                          430 |                                     427.27 | 1.22                                             |
| 2024-25          |                                          460 |                                     455.73 | 1.82                                             |

The cost of domestically mined Uranium is higher due to poor Ore quality.

(d)   Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is mandated to meet the requirement of Uranium for Nuclear Power Programme.  UCIL is undertaking time to time projects which include capacity expansion of some of existing units as well as for establishing new projects for meeting uranium fuel requirement.

(e) Estimated future demand for the imported natural uranium for operating and proposed Pressurised  Heavy  Water  Reactors  (PHWRs) under  safeguards is  about  9000  MTU for  the period 2025 to 2033.

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