Nuclear Resources

Uranium in India

• Significance: Uranium is a primary fuel for nuclear reactors.
• Source: Found in the form of uranium ore, primarily processed to extract uranium oxide.
• Major Reserves:
  • Jharkhand:
    • Jaduguda: India’s first uranium mine.
    • Narwapahar, Turamdih, Bhatin.
  • Andhra Pradesh:
    • Tummalapalle: Holds one of the largest uranium reserves globally.
    • Lambapur, Pulivendula.
  • Meghalaya: Domiasiat: 
  • Karnataka:Gogi in Yadgir district
  • Rajasthan: Rohil, Khetri belt.
  • Telangana: Amrabad region in Nallamala forests.
• Production: Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) oversees mining and processing. India relies on domestic production supplemented by imports for nuclear power plant.

Thorium in India

• Thorium is a fertile material, not fissile, but can be converted to Uranium-233 in reactors.
• India has one of the largest thorium reserves globally.
• Major Reserves:
  • Kerala: Coastal sands of Chavara.
  • Tamil Nadu: Manavalakurichi in Kanyakumari.
  • Odisha: Chatrapur in Ganjam district.
  • Andhra Pradesh: Coastal sands of Visakhapatnam and East Godavari.
  • Maharashtra: Ratnagiri coast.