Search for new uranium deposits to be stepped up: AEC chairman

Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman Sekhar Basu today said search for new uranium deposits in the country would be intensified to boost the production of nuclear fuel.

"A fillip is going to be provided to the search for uranium deposits to enhance nuclear fuel production in the country," Basu told reporters at a function at Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology here.

"Right now, there are 2.70 lakh tonnes of uranium deposits in the country. As per our estimate, we can excavate half of it, which is enough to run existing nuclear projects," he said.

Acquiring environmental clearances and completing other formalities can take up to 15 years before mining of new uranium deposits could start, he said.

The AEC chairman said that opposition to uranium mining would end once people realise the importance of this nuclear fuel.

To a question, he said that India's efforts to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) were on. India's entry into this club would give a boost to the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country, Basu added.

Basu also said that a water purification plant based on radiation technology can be started in Indore, on the lines of Ahmedabad, if the local administration is interested.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)