Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), which has a mandate to identify and evaluate mineral resources of uranium, has established 1,22,691 tonne in situ U3O8 (1,04,042 tonne U) in Andhra Pradesh (as on February, 2017) which is the highest in comparison to the other states of the country. District-wise details of the uranium resources in Andhra Pradesh are given below:
|
District
|
Deposit
|
Uranium resource
|
|
|
|
U3O8
(tonne)
|
U
(tonne)
|
|
Kadapa
|
Tummalapalle Group
|
1,19,930
|
1,01,701
|
|
Guntur
|
Koppunuru
|
2,761
|
2,341
|
|
|
Total
|
1,22,691
|
1,04,042
|
[1t U3O8 = 0.848 t uranium metal (U)]
Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL), a Public Sector Unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has already constructed an underground mine at Tummalapalle over a length of 7.6 km with potential to mine 3000 tonnes of ore per day. A plant to process 3000 tpd is also under operation by the Company. Uranium production has started from this plant since 2012.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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