Indian uranium ore mine projected to be globe's largest
A Southeast India uranium processing plant is expected to help drive the nation's efforts toward energy security, according to Mineweb.
Uranium reserves in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh are believed to be the globe's largest, which would be of benefit to mine sation efforts. The commissioned plant comes is welcome to the nation that has been importing uranium from throughout the world in order to help power its nuclear plants.
Expenses for construction efforts on the mine holding uranium ore and the processing plant are estimated to be as high as $208 million. Studies have indicated that Tummalapalle, located in the region, might have as much uranium ore as 150,000 tons.
The top official with the Atomic Energy Commission said early views of the mining project have been trumped by more recent assessments, enough to the extent that a second processing plant is necessary. Construction on that second plant is likely to begin soon by mine owner Uranium Corporation of India.
The country has estimated the uranium reserves to amount to as much as 175,000 tons.
"Tummalapalle could be one of the world's largest uranium deposits and the new facility would provide a major fillip to the country's nuclear programs,'' Banerjee reportedly told journalists once he commissioned the processing plant.
The first phase of production is estimated to see the daily generation of 3,000 tons of ore, which will progressively increase. The second phase will generate an additional 1,500 tons daily.
Production is forecast to fuel as much as one-quarter of the nation's nuclear plants, according to Indo-Asian News Service.