Second Nuclear Processing Plant of UIL commissioned

Jamshedpur, June 25 (UNI) Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar today inaugurated a Uranium Ore Processing plant at Jadugoda-based Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) at Turamdih in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district.

Dr Kakodkar, the secretary of department of Atomic Energency (DAE), also inaugurated the Baduhurang open-cast mine of UCIL and laid foundation for company's Mohuldih uranium mine.

The Rs 350 crore Uranium Ore Processing plant, a state-of-the-art's high-end capacity, has advanced uranium ore processing mill, the largest one after Jadugoda processing mill and second of UCIL, having a capacity of processing 3000 tonne of uranium ore per day. The capacity would enhance up to 4000 tonne by next year, the UCIL sources said.

The ore extracted from Turamdih, Bandhuhurang and Mahuldih mines would be processed in this plant, the sources said and added the plant would be fully operational in a fortnight.

Banduhurang mine is the first open cast mine of the UCIL, having a capacity of produce 2400 tonne uranium per day.

The capital cost of the mine, situated adjacent to Turamdih plant, was an estimated Rs.90 crore. While Mohuldih underground mining project, scheduled to be completed by 2010-11, would be invested Rs.90 crore. The mine would produce 1,50,000 tonne of uranium ore per annum, the sources said.

Dr Kakodar was accompanied by DAE additional secretary V P Raja and UCIL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Ramendra Gupta.

UNI