(a) the details of the atomic minerals deposits in the country ;
(b) whether the mineral deposits are proposed to be used for any purpose other than power generation;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefore?
(a) the details of the atomic minerals deposits in the country ;
(b) whether the mineral deposits are proposed to be used for any purpose other than power generation;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefore?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
(a) As of May, 2014, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has established 2,11,473 tonne in situ U3O8 (1,79,329 tonne Uranium ) reserves and 11.93 million tonne of in- situ resources of Monazite containing about 1.07 million tonnes of Thorium Oxide (ThO2), in the country.
(b) Yes. Sir.
(c) Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) a 100% owned Government of India Undertaking under the administrative control of the DAE is having three mining and mineral separation plants at Manavalakurichi, Tamil Nadu, Chavara, Kerala, and OSCOM, Odisha for producing atomic minerals from beach sand. In addition to power generation, atomic minerals find uses in various industrial applications such as manufacturing of Titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment, flux in welding electrodes, titanium metal, ceramics, sanitary wares, electronic capacitors etc.
(d) Does not arise in view of (c) above.