India: Uranium, that strategic metal

India’s ambitious nuclear program is based on the availability of sufficient uranium. But, do we have enough uranium resources in our country to meet the increasing demand? M S S Murthy thinks not.
The key to the success of a country’s nuclear program is the availability of uranium. At present, the share of nuclear power in the country is only about three per cent of the total electricity generation. This is contributed by 17 power plants with a gross capacity of 4120 megawatt-electrical (MWe). Answering a question in the Loka Sabha on March 14, 2007 the government replied that it plans to progressively increase the nuclear power generation to 7280 MWe by completing the seven projects under construction by the end of 11th plan (2007-2012). In the 11th plan it is proposed to start work on another 7600 MWe capacity, reaching a total generation capacity of 15,000 MWe by the year 2020 through indigenous efforts. All this capacity build-up will be based on indigenously designed natural uranium and pressurised heavy water moderated reactors.
Do we have enough uranium to achieve this capacity?

Though new deposits are being discovered, environmentalists, citizens’ groups, NGOs and even political parties are raising objections to mining and processing activities. Pollution of water resources from uranium tailings, radiation hazards to people living in the vicinity, displacement of tribals, inadequate compensation for the land acquired, encroachment to reserve forest areas, etc. have all been cited as reasons. These problems have been affecting not only new sites but also working mines. The NPCIL has cautioned that delay in commissioning new mines and mills could lead to further fuel shortage and jeopardise the nuclear power program.

One may argue that the country has abundant resources of thorium which can be converted into fissile material in breeder reactors. However, nuclear scientists feel that the prerequisite for the thorium utilisation program is the setting up of at least 10,000 MWe capacity (PHWR).

The government is ambitious of increasing the nuclear power capacity to 50,000 MWe by 2032. The present technology of natural uranium fuel in pressurised heavy water reactors, on which most of the current Indian program is based, is not best suited for this quantum jump.

Deccan Herald