IAEA hosts training event on Uranium exploration

Jamshedpur: Adequate uranium reserves have been proved for India`s nuclear power programme and the future belonged to mineralisation of poor grade uranium ore, according to the country`s nuclear experts. Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) Diwakar Acharya said environment-friendly mining activities for fuel and metal will have to be introduced in the country in view of the increasing demand. He was speaking at a five-day International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inter-regional training course on Uranium exploration strategy, mining and processing techniques which commenced here today. UCIL, a public sector unit, was equipped with skilled manpower and technique as it was engaged in the field of uranium exploration, mining and processing for over five decades in Singhbhum belt of Jharkhand, he said. Appreciating the IAEA for hosting the training course in Jamshedpur, Acharya said it was the first such event in the country and Jharkhand has been chosen because of "the good practices being followed at UCIL as well as the vast experiences it had." The training department of UCIL recently bagged the National award because of the good practices, he said asserting that UCIL was equipped with expertise to train the delegates taking part in programme from across the country and 26 overseas countries. Acharya expressed confidence that the five-day training programme would give a platform to scientists, geologists and other stakeholders enaged in this field to share their experiences. He told newsmen that integral part of the training course was to share experiences with freshers coming in the spectrum of nuclear science including Uranium exploration, mining and processing. Among other related issues, the course would deliberate upon methods being followed in the field of mineralization, geological survey and economic and market condition at the time of mining. Admitting that the uranium prices were very low, Acharya regretted there was no new investment in the uranium sector for the last ten years in the country. Expressing satisfaction over UCIL`s Tummalapalle project in Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh, Acharya said it was in advance stage of commissioning. Dwelling upon the subject, the Director of Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD), Pratap Singh Parihar, said the concerned department has started various exploration and search activities including aerial, geological and physical survey, identification of rocks, grade quality of ore. Parihar claimed that adequate uranium reserves are there for the country`s nuclear power programme. With future exploration strategy, he said it was envisaged to add more uranium reserves in promising uranium areas. Henry Schnell, IAEA expert from Canada, was attending the event. He told newsmen that integral part of the training course was to share experiences with freshers coming in the spectrum of nuclear science including Uranium exploration, mining and processing. Among other related issues, the course would deliberate upon methods being followed in the field of mineralization, geological survey and economic and market condition at the time of mining. Admitting that the uranium prices were very low, Acharya regretted there was no new investment in the uranium sector for the last ten years in the country. Expressing satisfaction over UCIL`s Tummalapalle project in Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh, Acharya said it was in advance stage of commissioning. Dwelling upon the subject, the Director of Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD), Pratap Singh Parihar, said the concerned department has started various exploration and search activities including aerial, geological and physical survey, identification of rocks, grade quality of ore. Parihar claimed that adequate uranium reserves are there for the country`s nuclear power programme. With future exploration strategy, he said it was envisaged to add more uranium reserves in promising uranium areas. Henry Schnell, IAEA expert from Canada, was attending the event. PTI