Lok Sabha Question No. 353 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-23
Subject: Uranium Sources
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.*353

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.12.2015

## URANIUM SOURCES

- *353.  SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has  explored  some  more  uranium  reserves  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof, Statewise;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  upgrade  the  exploration  capacity  of AMD and also induct new/latest technologies for mapping purpose;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  and  financial  implications  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to increase the exploration and research capacity of AMD for identifying the uranium reserves in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d) A statement is placed on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*353 FOR  ANSWER  ON  23.12.2015  BY  SHRI  PRAHLAD  SINGH  PATEL  REGARDING URANIUM SOURCES

- (a) Yes Sir. During the last six months, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research  (AMD),  a  constituent  unit  of  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  (DAE)  has proved  4,000  tonnes  of in  situ U3O8  (3392  tonnes  U)  reserves.    As  of  November, 2015, AMD has established 2,29,936 tonnes in-situ U3O8 (1,94,985 tonnes Uranium) reserves.

State-wise details of the uranium reserves established during the last six months are given below:

| State          | District   | Name of the deposit           | Uranium Reserves   | Uranium Reserves   | Uranium Reserves    | Uranium Reserves    |
|----------------|------------|-------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
|                |            |                               | As on May 2015     | As on May 2015     | As on November 2015 | As on November 2015 |
|                |            |                               | U 3 O 8 (tonnes)   | U (tonnes)         | U 3 O 8 (tonnes     | U (tonnes)          |
| Andhra Pradesh | Kadapa     | Tummalapalle- Rachakuntapalle | 98,952             | 83,911             | 1,02,952            | 87,303              |

[1 tonne of U3O8   = 0.848 tonnes of uranium metal]

- (b) & (c) Yes  Sir.  The  Government  has  already  initiated  modernization  of  exploration capacity of AMD  by procuring state-of-the-art instruments/equipments like Hydrostatic drill  rigs,  Mobile  geochemical vans, Heliborne Time Domain ElectroMagnetic  (TDEM)  system,  Seismic  Reflection-Refraction  system,  GPS  based magnetometer, Video-conferencing system and Multi-para borehole logging system, ICP-OES etc. in the early years of XII Plan.  The Government has already approved a total Plan Outlay for AMD to the tune of Rs.831.48 crore for XII Plan period (2012-2017).
- (d) To  increase  the exploration and  research  capacity  of AMD  for  identifying additional uranium reserves in the country, the Government has formulated new projects  involving  Rs.831.48  crore  during  XII  Plan  period  (2012-2017).  The capacity increase includes enhancement of (i) drilling meterage by departmental machines,  (ii)  heliborne  and  ground  geophysical  surveys,  and  (iii)  analytical support with the help of latest state-of-the-art instruments/equipments.

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