International meet for uranium exploration begins in Jharkhand

Jaduguda, Mar 20 (UNI) A five-day international technical meeting on ''Aerial and Ground Geophysical Techniques for Uranium Exploration and Advanced Mining and Milling methods and Equipment'' began at Narwapahar of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) here today.

The meet is organised by UCIL under the aegis International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna and Austria.

Inaugurating the meet Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission(AEC) and Secretary Department of Atomic Energy(DAE) Dr Anil Kakodkar said exploration of uranium was needed for building a large nuclear power programme in India and the meet, which was being organised for the first time here, would be a landmark to achieve the goal and it would allow us to look into the future.

Dr Kakodkar said three stages programmes were introduced to explore uranium as the resources of uranium was very modest in our country compared to other countries in the world and the programmes could be implemented taking advantage of the new geophysical technology in a comprehensive manner.

He said the recent agreement on nuclear cooperation with the United States and India during President George W Bush's visit would also have a positive impact on the nuclear power programme in India.

Dr Kakodkar said DAE was also comtemplating of outsourcing uranium resources.

CEO of CAMECO, Canada, G W Grandey said India could play an important role in developing neuclear programme in the South East Asia and the meet would prove to be a stepping stone to meet the challenges.

Mr C Ganguly of IAEA, who has been deputed in Vienna, stressed the need for minimise the gap of production and supply of uranium. He also suggested to set up training centres in India like one in Czech Republic to produce highly technical manpower in the field of uranium exploration programme.

Chairman and Managing director of UCIL said the meet would work as an ideal platform between government and private organisations to tap the uranium reserves in India.

The meet would be attended by about 60 high level delegates that include 20 eminent scientists from 12 different countries and 40 Indian Scientists and Engineers.

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