Andhra uranium find may be world’s largest: DAE
19 Jul 2011
Rawatbhata, Rajasthan: The Tummalappalle uranium mine in the Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh may potentially be the largest uranium mine in the world, according to India's Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). An initial estimated reserve of 14,000 tonnes was revised to 49,000 tonnes, which has now been further revised to 1.5 lakh tonnes, according to Dr Srikumar Banerjee, secretary, DAE.
"It`s confirmed that the mine has 49,000 tonnes of ore, and there are indications that the total quantity could be three times of that amount. If that be the case, it will become the largest uranium mine in the world. The plant is ready, and will begin production by the end of this year," Banerjee said.
Dr Banerjee was interacting with the media at a function to mark the start of construction of two nuclear-power reactors at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. He was attending the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the seventh and eighth units of the Rawatbhata atomic power project.
The quantity will be sufficient for supporting a nuclear power plant of 8,000 MW capacity for 40 years.
Currently, India has just one functioning mine, located at Jaduguda, in Jharkhand.
The total reserves are estimated to be in the range of 170,000 tonnes.
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