Huge uranium find reported in India

NEW DELHI, July 19 (UPI) -- A huge uranium deposit was struck in a mine in India's southern Andhra Pradesh state, with experts saying the site could hold the world's largest reserve.

The discovery was made in the mines in the state's Tummalapalle area, the Press Trust of India reported Tuesday.

"At today's estimates, the uranium reserves are to the tune of 49,000 tonnes (54,000 tons). We expect it to be three-fold of that," Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Srikumar Banerjee told reporters at a gathering marking the start of construction of two nuclear-power reactors in Rawatbhata in the western desert state of Rajasthan.

The report said the uranium reserves at the site had been estimated at 15,000 tonnes (16,500 tons) prior to additional exploration by the Indian Atomic Energy Department's Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD).

The report said if the identified deposits are found to be over 150,000 tonnes (165,300 tons), the Tummalapalle mine could become the largest uranium reserve in the world.

"It's confirmed that the mine has 49,000 tonnes of ore, and there are indications that the total quantity could be three times of that amount. If that be the case, it will become the largest uranium mine in the world. The plant is ready, and will begin production by the end of this year," the Times of India quoted Banerjee as saying.

AMD scientists expect to find uranium deposits over the entire length of the 160 kilometer (nearly 100 miles) Tummalapalle belt, PTI reported.

The Uranium Corp. of India Limited, which has uranium mines and an ore processing mill in northern Jharkhand state, has identified additional deposits in two other states.

Analysts were quoted as saying the latest find would still not be able to meet the nuclear energy demand of India, which plans to build up to about 30 reactors.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/07/19/Huge-uranium-find-reported-in-India/UPI-39471311076331/.