19.7.11

Somewhere in Andhra Pradesh....

India’s nuclear power aspirations just got a boost thanks to a lucky find. The Department of Atomic Energy has discovered that the upcoming uranium mine in Andhra Pradesh’s Tumalapalli has close to 49,000 tonnes of uranium, three times the original estimate. In fact, there are indications that the total quantity may go up to 1.5 lakh tonnes, which would make it among the largest uranium mines in the world. The quantity is sufficient to support a nuclear power plant of 8,000mw capacity for 40 years. The production is expected to start in six months. Currently, India has two functioning uranium mines, both in Jharkhand. The total reserves are estimated to be in the range of 1,70,000 tonnes. The discovery of the Tumalapalli deposit has, in one stroke, boosted the availability of uranium, lowering India’s dependence on foreign supplies. India has been procuring uranium on various terms from countries like France and Kazakhstan, but does not have a long-term supply contract. Delhi continues to fancy nuclear energy as a possible solution for its energy needs.

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