In a major boost to the quest for deposits of uranium ore in the country, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has come across another site with a large deposit of the mineral in Rajasthan.
The deposit found at Rohil in Rajasthan’s Sikar district is estimated at 5,185 tonnes, which makes it the fourth largest in the country after Tummalapalle, Chitrial and Peddagattu extension in Andhra Pradesh.
The new site is close to the Rohil North region, which has already been found to have a deposit of about 381 tonnes.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman R.K. Sinha said that it was still only an initial find and there was need for more extensive surveys to ascertain the actual width and depth of the field.
The DAE was investing heavily in exploration of uranium and as of June, the Department’s Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research established a total deposit of 1.84 lakh tonnes of the uranium ore resources in different parts of the country.
It is heartening to note that one more uranium deposit is found by DAE
geologists. In the very long run it may be useful too. But it is
doubtful if 'heavy investment' as reported is advisable at this stage.
From the report itself we know already 1.84 uranium resources have
been identified. Even if we mine and process 2 per cent of this known
uranium, we can have about 2,000 tons per year in our hand and the
resources last for nearly 100 years. The presently working and likely
to be commissioned reactors need no more than that amount annually.
What is worrying is that we are not producing anything near that. Why
is this deficiency? Investment should go in this direction. The
chairman AEC has not touched this point.
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