Nuclear Energy Resources

Nuclear energy has become a significant source of power in recent times. The two key minerals used to generate nuclear energy are uranium and thorium.

Uranium in India

Uranium deposits in India are found in the Dharwar rocks. Geographically, uranium ores occur in several locations along the Singhbhum Copper belt. Other important locations include:

• Udaipur, Alwar, and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan
• Durg district of Chhattisgarh
• Bhandara district of Maharashtra
• Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh

Thorium in India

Thorium is mainly obtained from two minerals found in beach sands: monazite and ilmenite. These sands occur along the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The world’s richest monazite deposits are found in:

• Palakkad and Kollam districts of Kerala
• Near Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh
• The Mahanadi river delta in Odisha

Development of Nuclear Energy in India

The Atomic Energy Commission was established in 1948, but real progress began only after the Atomic Energy Institute was set up at Trombay in 1954. This institute was renamed the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1967. …