Govt wants united hunt for uranium

NEW DELHI: The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has approached Mineral Exploration Corporation (MECL) to supplement Atomic Minerals Division���s domestic uranium exploration and drilling capacity. It is in talks with the ministry of mines, the administrative ministry of MECL, a source said. It is learnt that DAE is discussing issues like the cost of drilling with the ministry.

DAE may outsource 4.48 lakh meters of uranium drilling to MECL. ���According to the Eleventh Plan, a total of 7.48 lakh metres drilling needs to be carried out to prospect for uranium mining blocks in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Meghalaya. Since AMD has the capacity to drill only 3 lakh meters for exploring uranium, the Planning Commission has recommended DAE to outsource rest of the drilling job to MECL,��� an official said. The move is aimed at augmenting additional uranium resources to 75,000 tonnes during the Eleventh Plan.