Uranium Mining: Indian Developments and Global Scenario

Uranium, with its inherent high energy density is the basic raw material for nuclear power plants and plays a significant role in meeting the energy demand in many countries. It is ubiquitous in nature occurring in varied concentration in almost all type of rocks. But, uranium deposits predominate in certain metallogenic provinces only. Possibility of using uranium as nuclear weapons makes it a material of strategic importance and therefore, its availability is guarded through international agreements. Self reliance in basic raw materials is the dominant paradigm of nuclear power programme of India. Only a small part of land mass in Indian sub-continent is assumed to be geologically favourable for hosting uranium deposits. Indian uranium deposits are of medium size and the country has a modest uranium resource. Most part of uranium production of the country comes from two ore processing plants in operation in Jharkhand and these plants are fed by ore from six underground mines and one opencast mine. A large underground mine and processing plant have been commissioned in Andhra Pradesh contributing to the total production. More areas in different parts of the country are under different stages of pre-project activities. India's nuclear programme is based on unique sequential three-stages, aiming to make optimal utilization of the indigenous uranium resource and to utilise vast thorium resources at later stage. Availability of uranium through import in recent years has substantially added to the performance of the nuclear power plants of the country.