Lok Sabha Question No. 2566 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: High Value Uranium Deposits
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: PARAYAMPARANBIL KUTTAPPAN BIJU, INNOCENT

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2566**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2015

**HIGH VALUE URANIUM DEPOSITS**

2566. 	SHRI P.K. BIJU:

SHRI INNOCENT:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

(a) 	whether high value uranium deposits have been found in different parts of the 	country and if so, the details thereof;

(b)	 the findings of the explorations if conducted and the further steps being 	contemplated to exploit this valuable natural resources; and

(c)	 the expenditure incurred for its exploration during the last three years?

**ANSWER**

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

(a) 	Yes, Sir.  In the Indian context, even relatively low grade uranium deposits of significant tonnage, and those located in the vicinity of existing mining centres, which would enhance the life of the operating mines and mills thereby optimizing the operational costs, could be considered as “higher value uranium deposit”.   India has large tonnage deposits with economic viability.     Details of such uranium deposits are given below:

|  State          | District         | Name of the deposit                 | Uranium reserves    | Uranium reserves    |
|-----------------|------------------|-------------------------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| State           | District         | Name of the deposit                 | U3O8  (t)           | U (t)               |
| Andhra  Pradesh | Kadapa           | Tummalapalle –  Rachakuntapalle     | 98,952              | 83,911              |
|                 | Guntur           | Koppunuru                           | 2,761               | 2,341               |
| Telangana       | Nalgonda         | Lambapur                            | 1,450               | 1,230               |
| Telangana       | Nalgonda         | Peddagattu                          | 7,585               | 6,432               |
| Telangana       | Nalgonda         | Chitrial                            | 9,515               | 8,069               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Jaduguda                            | 8,038               | 6,816               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Bhatin                              | 1,700               | 1,442               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Narwapahar                          | 10,700              | 9,074               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Narwapahar extension                | 1,080               | 916                 |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Narwapahar extension (deeper block) | 2,496               | 2,117               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Turamdih                            | 3,750               | 3,180               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Banduhurang                         | 5,460               | 4,630               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Bagjata                             | 1,860               | 1,577               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Mohuldih                            | 1,700               | 1,442               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Mohuldih extension                  | 1,630               | 1,382               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Turamdih (south )                   | 4,850               | 4,113               |
| Jharkhand       | East Singhbhum   | Singridungri-Banadungri             | 9,360               | 7,937               |
| Meghalaya       | West Khasi Hills | KPM (Domiasiat)                     | 9,500               | 8,056               |
| Meghalaya       | West Khasi Hills | Wahkyn                              | 5,381               | 4,563               |
| Meghalaya       | West Khasi Hills | Wahkut                              | 3,840               | 3,256               |
| Rajasthan       | Sikar            | Rohil                               | 8,003               | 6,786               |
| Karnataka       | Gulbarga         | Gogi                                | 4,267               | 3,618               |

(b)	Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is engaged in survey and exploration activities to identify and evaluate reserves of atomic minerals in the country.  As of June, 2015, AMD has established 2,25,936t *in-situ* U 3 O 8 (1,91,594t Uranium) reserves in the country.

Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL) a Public Sector Enterprise under Department of Atomic Energy is engaged in mining and processing of uranium ore in the country.

The Company is operating seven uranium mines and two process plants in Jharkhand. Some of these units are under capacity augmentation. A large underground mine and process plant at Tummalapalle in Andhra Pradesh has been constructed. In addition, a new underground mine and plant at Gogi in Karnataka, open pit mine at Kylleng Pymdengsohiong Mawathabah (KPM) in Meghalaya, one open pit and three underground mines at Lambapur in Telangana, and one uranium mining project in Sikar district of Rajasthan are in different stages of implementation

(c)	The expenditure incurred by  AMD for its exploration programme during the  last three years is given as under:

| Year    | Expenditure (Rs. in lakh)   |
|---------|-----------------------------|
| 2012-13 | 6,519.61                    |
| 2013-14 | 8,364.17                    |
| 2014-15 | 8,827.86                    |

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