The Centre today refused to disclose the total production of 'nuclear fuel' uranium in the country, stating it was "not in public interest".
In a written response in Rajya Sabha, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said, "Pursuant to the civil nuclear cooperation with various countries, around 7,810 metric tonnes of natural uranium and 100 MT of enriched uranium have been imported from France, Russia, Kazakhstan and Canada since 2009."
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) reports directly to the PMO.
"It is not in public interest to disclose the production of uranium in the country," Singh said.
"About 860 MT of uranium is required annually to meet the operational requirements of the existing Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). Sixteen of these reactors have 220 MW capacity and two have 540 MW of capacity. Similarly, around 16 MT of enriched uranium is required for two Boiling Water Reactors," he stated.
The minister added that the DAE has plans to ramp up nuclear power generation in the country.
"It (DAE) has aimed to increase uranium production ten-fold by 2031-32," he said.
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