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.

 

******

PK/SS/BS/1923

 


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