N-shot in arm: AP uranium mine could be among world’s largest

Rawatbhata (Rajasthan): 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. Srikumar Banerjee, DAE secretary and chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, announced the huge discovery during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the seventh and eighth units of the Rawatbhata atomic power project on Monday. "It's confirmed that the mine has 49,000 tonnes of ore. But there are indications that the total quantity could be three times of that amount. If that is the case, it will be one of the largest uranium mines in the world. The plant is ready, and will begin production by the end of this year," Banerjee said.      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.  WILL CUT RELIANCE ON FOREIGN SUPPLIES      Uranium reserves at  Tumalapalli: 49,000 tonnes,  3 times previous estimate      Deposits could go up to around 1.5 lakh tonnes, making it among world's largest uranium mines Current deposits enough to run 8,000mw plant for 40 years  India's known uranium deposits estimated at 1.7 lakh tonnes  India imports uranium but has no long-term supply contract  Nuclear Power Corporation plans to built 14 N-plants of 700mw capacity each 14,700 MW reactors planned in coming yrs  Rawatbhata (Rajasthan): Unlike some countries which have been forced to temper their enthusiasm for nuclear energy post-Fukushima, India is persisting with its push for what is considered to be the cleanest source of energy.      In case of Tumalapalli in Andhra Pradesh, but it took four years for the estimate of uranium reserves to come to the present level from 15,000 tonnes in 2007. A 220-MW plant requires 45 tonnes of uranium per year, a 540-MW plant needs 80 tonnes and a 700-MW plant requires 100 tonnes a year. DAE secretary Srikumar Banerjee said the fact that the usual acidic method of leaching would not have worked in Tumalapalli had resulted in some time being taken for the full exploration of the reserves. "We developed the method of acidic leaching in the Jadugoda mines in Jharkhand. Subsequent exploration showed that the reserves were spread across a 35-km radius," he said. S K Jain, CMD of the Nuclear Power Corporation India Limited, announced plans of constructing 14 plants of 700 MW capacity each over the next few years. TNN

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