Department of Atomic Energy
Shortage of Nuclear Fuel
Posted On:
04 JAN 2018 8:39PM by PIB Delhi
The Government has provided fuel from both indigenous and imported sources in required quantities for operation of nuclear power reactors at their rated power.
As per the vision plan prepared, in order to fulfil the requirement of Uranium to fuel nuclear power plants, Department of Atomic Energy will achieve nearly ten-fold rise in uranium production in next 15 years (by 2031-2032). The uranium mining projects have been planned in three phases. On completion of the projects in first phase, it is expected to produce 3.5 times of existing uranium production by the 12th year. On completion of the projects in second phase, uranium production is expected to achieve seven times of existing production. With the completion of phase three projects uranium production of the country is expected to record ten-fold increase by 2031-32.
The above is subject to obtaining all statutory clearances and external constraints.
Consequent upon the Civil Nuclear cooperation, DAE has been importing Uranium to meet the fuel requirements of IAEA Safeguarded Nuclear Power Plants. The details of quantities of Uranium imported so far since the year 2009 and the anticipated supplies during the year 2017-18 is as follows:-
Sr.
No.
|
Firm/
Country
|
Date of
entering into
Contract
|
Total Quantity to be
procured as per Contract
|
Total
Quantity
received up
to 19-12- 17
|
Anticipated
deliveries in
2017-18
|
1.
|
M/s. AREVA,
France
|
17.12.2008
|
300 MT of Natural Uranium Ore Concentrate
|
299.88 MT
|
Nil
|
2.
|
M/s. PJSC
TVEL
Corporation,
Russia
|
11.02.2009
|
2000 MT of Natural
Uranium Oxide Pellets
|
2005.88 MT
|
Nil
|
11.02.2009
|
58 MT of Enriched
Uranium Oxide Pellets
|
58.30 MT
|
Nil
|
03.03.2015
|
42 MT of Enriched
Uranium Oxide Pellets
|
42.15 MT
|
Nil
|
3.
|
M/s. Navoi
Mining & Metallurgical
Combinat,
Uzbekistan
|
28.09.2013
|
2000 MT of Natural
Uranium Ore
Concentrate
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
4.
|
M/s.
Cameco,
Canada
|
15.04.2015
|
The Contract
permits procurement of a minimum of 2750 MT and
maximum 5500 MT of Natural Uranium
Ore Concentrate
|
2473.87 MT
|
Nil
|
5.
|
M/s. JSC
NAC
Kazatom
Prom,
Kazakhstan
|
12.11.2009
|
2100 MT of Natural
Uranium Ore
Concentrate
|
2095.9 MT
|
Nil
|
08.07.2015
|
The Contract
permits procurement
of a minimum of 3750 MT and maximum 7000 MT
of Natural Uranium ore Concentrate
|
2667.08 MT
|
2076 MT *
|
* inclusive of part consignment of around 576 MT pertaining to the Calendar Year 2016 and 1500 MT pertaining to the Calendar Year 2017. Both the consignments are expected to be received during the Financial Year 2017-18.
The quantity of uranium imported from various countries and expenditures incurred thereon during the last three years and the current year, country-wise and year-wise are mentioned below:
|
M/s JSC NAC Kazatomprom,
Kazakhstan (Uranium Ore
Concentrate)
|
M/s Cameco Canada
(Uranium Ore
Concentrate)
|
M/s PJSC TVEL
Corporation, Russia
(Natural Uranium Oxide
Pellets)
|
Year
|
Quantity
(MT)
|
Cost
(` in Crore)
|
Quantity
(MT)
|
Cost
( in Crore)
|
Quantity
(MT)
|
Cost
(` in Crore)
|
2014-15
|
283.419
|
216.93
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
296.548
|
541.55
|
2015-16
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
250.743
|
158.28
|
303.787
|
565.17
|
42.150 *
|
303.64
|
2016-17
|
999.807
|
590.01
|
1233.681
|
543.51
|
187.334
|
395.29
|
2017-18
(up to
28-12- 17)
|
923.856
|
332.52
|
989.452
|
373.82
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
* One-time import of Enriched Uranium Oxide Pellets.
This was stated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.
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PK/SS/BS/1923
(Release ID: 1515592)
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