A 4-year survey by the Department of Atomic Energy’s scientists found world’s largest uranium reserves near Tummalapalli village of Vemula Mandal in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.
Sri Kumar Banerjee, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, told media persons in New Delhi this morning that the Tummalapalli mine could contain a whopping 1, 50, 000 tonnes of uranium.
“The presence of 49,000 tonnes of uranium is confirmed in Tummalapalli but the actual quantity may rise to more than 1, 50,000 tonnes,” he said, adding that it could be the world’s largest uranium mine. Mining of the area is likely to begin by next January.
He said the earlier estimates projected the presence of 15, 000 tonnes in and around Tummalapalli but the completed surveys indicated the presence of 49, 000 tonnes on a minimum basis and the actual quantity could be around 1, 50,000 tonnes going by the indications.
Indian atomic energy fulfills hardly 3 per cent of the country’s electricity requirements presently but the new findings could give a boost to the uranium production leading to the establishment of more nuclear power plants in future.
