India opens new uranium mine and mill

[New Kerala, 25 June; The Hindu, 26 June] Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) has opened a new uranium mine at Banduhurang and a new mill, capable of processing 3000 tonnes of uranium ore per day, at Turamdih. Together with the existing mill at Judaguda, Indian ore processing capacity will be around 5200 tonnes per day. Inaugurating the new mill, Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar told journalists that the country is trying to become self-sufficient in terms of nuclear power production. "We are trying to cut down the import bill of uranium and focussing on domestic supply," he is quoted as saying. He also opened the open-cast uranium mine at Banduhurang and laid the foundation for the construction of a new underground uranium mine at Mohuldih, according to the Indian press. The Banduhurang mine is expected to produce 2250 tonnes of ore per day. The Mohulidh mine is expected to take 4 years to construct and will produce 150,000 tonnes of ore per year.

Further information

Uranium Corporation of India

WNA's Nuclear Power in India information paper