Lok Sabha Question No. 4306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Enhancement of Indigenous Capacity in Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Rahul Singh Lodhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4306

ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## ENHANCEMENT OF INDIGENOUS CAPACITY IN NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE

## 4306.  SHRI RAHUL SINGH LODHI

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has taken initiatives to enhance indigenous capacity in nuclear fuel cycle activities such as uranium mining, fuel fabrication and waste management;
- (b) if so, the details of the initiatives undertaken in this regard during the year 2024-25;
- (c) whether  these  measures  have  led  to  an  improvement  in  the  availability  of  fuel  for domestic reactors; and
- (d) if so, the details of the improvements achieved in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b) Yes. Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) mandated to mine and process uranium ore  in  the  country,  has  undertaken  initiatives  to  enhance  indigenous  capability  of Uranium mining. UCIL has planned to take up new uranium mining projects in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and has undertaken initiatives to establish mine and mill with a capacity of 2,500 TPD at Rohil in Sikar District Rajasthan and another at Jajwal Uranium Project, Chhattisgarh which are under various stages of obtaining statutory clearances.

Nuclear  Fuel  Complex  (NFC),  a  Constituent  Unit  under  Department  of  Atomic Energy,  undertakes  fabrication  of  fuel  assemblies  indigenously  for  Nuclear  Power Corporation  India  Limited  (NPCIL)  which  operates  Pressurized  Heavy  Water Reactors  (PHWRs)  and  Boiling  Water  Reactors  (BWRs)  with  uranium  as  raw material  sourced  from  UCIL  and  imports.  NFC  has  undertaken  initiatives  and augmented  its  fuel  production  facility  from  time  to  time,  as  per  the  reactor deployment program of NPCIL and supplies from UCIL.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the Research and Development unit and Nuclear Recycle Board (NRB) under Department of Atomic Energy are constructing large  capacity  integrated  nuclear  recycle  facilities  at  Integrated  Nuclear  Recycle Plant (INRP) Tarapur and Fast Reactor Fuel Cycle Facility (FRFCF) Kalpakkam for recycling & waste management of spent fuel from domestic sources and fabrication of fuel for fast reactor. The facilities are expected to enhance the indigenous capacity for fuel fabrication and waste management in the country.

- (c)&(d)  Yes.  The  initiatives  undertaken  in  mining  and  fuel  fabrication  domains  and  on commissioning of integrated nuclear facilities will result in enhanced production of fuel  for  PHWRs  and  continuous  availability  of  mixed  oxide  (MOx)  fuels  for  fast breeder reactors. The new fuel fabrication plants, which are part of nuclear recycle facilities at Tarapur and Kalpakkam will ensure availability of fuel for fast reactors.

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