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{{short description|Mine in India}}
{{Update|date=October 2018}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Tummalapalle Uranium Mine
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = India Andhra Pradesh#India
| pushpin_label = Tummalapalle Uranium Mine
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|14.32|N|78.26|E|region:IN|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| place = Tumalapalli, [[YSR Kadapa district]]
| subdivision_type = State
| state/province = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| country = [[India]]
| owner = [[Uranium Corporation of India]]
| official website = [http://www.ucil.gov.in/web/index.asp www.ucil.gov.in]
| acquisition year =
| stock_exchange =
| stock_code =
| products = [[Uranium]]
| financial year =
| amount =
| opening year =
| closing year =
}}
The '''Tummalapalle Mine''' is a [[Uranium mining|uranium mine]] in Tumalapalli village located in [[Kadapa]] of the [[India]]n state of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. Results from research conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission of India in 2011 made the analysts conclude that this mine might have one of the largest reserves of [[uranium]] in the world.<ref name="India: 'Massive' uranium find in Andhra Pradesh">
{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14196372|title=India: 'Massive' uranium find in Andhra Pradesh
|date=19 July 2011
|publisher=[[BBC World News]]
|accessdate=19 July 2011
|location=New Delhi}}</ref><ref name="Nuclear-boost: Uranium mine in Andhra could be among largest in world">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nuclear-boost-Uranium-mine-in-Andhra-could-be-among-largest-in-world/articleshow/9277652.cms|title=Nuclear-boost: Uranium mine in Andhra could be among largest in world|last=Ghosh|first=Abantika|date=19 July 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|location=Rawatbhata|accessdate=19 July 2011}}</ref>

On 19 July 2011, Secretary of Department of Atomic Energy, [[Srikumar Banerjee|Dr. S. Banerjee]] who is also the Chairman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission of India]] confirmed on reserves of 49,000 [[tonne]]s and suggested that there could be even three times larger which would make Tummalapalle the mine with the world's largest [[uranium]] deposits.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2248407.ece |title=Tummalapalle in Telngana could have one of world's largest uranium reserves |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=19 July 2011 |last=P |first=Sunderarajan. |accessdate=3 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="Uranium find in India could be world's largest-report">
{{cite news
|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/india-uranium-idUSL3E7IJ0YR20110719|title=Uranium find in India could be world's largest-report
|last=Dutta
|first=Ratnajyoti
|author2=Krittivas Mukherjee
|date=19 July 2011
|publisher=reuters.
|accessdate=19 July 2011
|location=New Delhi}}</ref> The estimates were subsequently increased to 85,000 tonnes in 2014.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/one-lakh-tonnes-uranium-reserve-andhras-tummalapalle-mine-all-you-need-know-56043|website=www.thenewsminute.com|access-date=2019-07-28}}</ref>

Earlier, uranium reserves were found only up to a depth of about 250 metres. The latest findings reportedly indicate that the reserves run as deep as 1,000 metres.<ref name=":0" />

This finding substantially increased India’s capability of producing energy from nuclear plants. As of 2018, India was producing about 3.13% of its energy from nuclear plants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pris.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/CountryDetails.aspx?current=IN|title=PRIS - Country Details|website=pris.iaea.org|access-date=2019-07-28}}</ref> These findings suggest that this output can be increased to more than 30% by 2050, essential if India hopes to reduce its emissions, pollution and use of coal power. This domestic uranium find would not only boost India's nuclear energy plans but also help to reduce costs by switching from expensive sources of power like coal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/8647745/Largest-uranium-reserves-found-in-India.html |title=Largest uranium reserves found in India |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=19 July 2011 |accessdate=3 August 2011 |last=Bedi |first=Rahul |location=New Delhi }}</ref>

==History==
On 23 Aug 2007 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) of Government of India cleared the setting up of a uranium mine and processing plant by the [[Uranium Corporation of India]] with an estimated cost of {{INRConvert|11.06|b}}.<ref name="CCEA clears proposal for uranium plant">
{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/25/stories/2007082563481200.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219053025/http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/25/stories/2007082563481200.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=19 December 2007
|title=CCEA clears proposal for uranium plant|work=[[The Hindu]]
|last=Special Correspondent
|date=25 August 2007
|accessdate=3 August 2011
|location=New Delhi}}</ref> After that the [[Uranium Corporation of India]] acquired {{convert|1122|acres}} of government land at {{INRConvert|50000}} per {{convert|1|acre}} and {{convert|1118|acres}} of private land at a price of {{INRConvert|180000}} for {{convert|1|acre}} of wetland and {{INRConvert|120000}} for dry land in Tummalapalle, Rachakundapalle, KK Kottaland, and Mabbuchintalapalle villages in [[Pulivendula]] constituency. On 20 November 2007 the then Chief Minister [[Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy]] laid the foundation stone for the mine.<ref name="‘No radiation effect around Tummalapalle">
{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/20/stories/2007112061510500.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203192118/http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/20/stories/2007112061510500.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=3 December 2007
|title='No radiation effect around Tummalapalle
|date=20 November 2007
|last=Special Correspondent
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|accessdate=3 August 2011
|location=Hyderabad}}</ref>
UCIL commissioned Cuddapah Uranium Phase-1 Project with 3000 tonnes on 20 April 2012.<ref name=":1">http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2924/stories/20121214292409000.htm</ref>

==Geography==

Tummalapalle [[uranium ore]] mine is located in Vemula [[Tehsil|Mandal]] of [[Kadapa district]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]] at a distance of {{convert|70|km|mi}} from [[Kadapa]], the district's headquarters. The area where the deposits were found is covered in [[Survey of India]]'s topographic sheet Nos. 57 J/3 and 57 J/7 between latitudes 14°18'36" N & 14°20'20" N and longitudes 78°15'16" E & 78°18' 03.3" E. The nearest town is [[Pulivendla]], which is {{convert|15|km|mi}} away (by road) towards the north-west. The mine is linked to Pulivendla through village roads leading to State Highway No.18, which connects Kadapa with [[Velidandla]]. The nearest railway station is [[Muddanurru]] on South Central Railway’s [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]] – [[Chennai]] BG Line, which is {{convert|50|km|mi}} towards the north-east.<ref name="URANIUM PROJECT AT TUMMALAPALLE - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY">
{{cite journal
|title=Uranium project at Tummalapalle – executive summary
|publisher=[[Uranium Corporation of India]]
|url=http://www.appcb.ap.nic.in/public%20hearing/ph/to_be_conducted/many/TUMMALAPALLI%20URANIUM%20MINING%20PROJECT%20YSR%20KADAPA%20DIST%20%20EXE%20SUM%20%20ENG.pdf
|accessdate=3 August 2011}} {{Dead link|date=March 2012}}
</ref>

==Water resources==
The mine will draw most of its water requirements from the river [[Chitravathi River|Chitravathi]]. Design, construction and commissioning work of intake well and pump house at Chitravati River basin, the water and effluent treatment plants and the condensate recovery unit at [[uranium ore]] processing plant and laying of cross-country pipeline from the river Chitravati to the uranium ore processing plant – all these tasks were contracted by Jamshedpur Utilities & Services Company (Jusco), a 100% subsidiary company of [[Tata Steel]], on [[EPC (contract)|EPC]] basis.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Jusco-enters-south-through-Ucil-project-in-Andhra/347815/ |title=Jusco enters south through Ucil project in Andhra |work=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]] |last=State Bureau |accessdate=3 August 2011 |date=12 August 2008}}</ref> The water system project, the construction of which commenced in August 2008, was inaugurated by Srikumar Banerjee on 7 July 2011.<ref name="Jusco inaugurates water system project of Uranium Corporation of India at Tummalapalle, Andhra Pradesh">{{cite news|url=http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=27900|title=Jusco inaugurates water system project of Uranium Corporation of India at Tummalapalle, Andhra Pradesh|date=14 July 2011|work=Orissa Diary|accessdate=3 August 2011|location=Hyderabad|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320014738/http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=27900|archive-date=20 March 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Uranium purification plant==
The construction works for the first phase of the uranium purification was completed in 2012 and Cuddapah Uranium Phase-1 Project was commissioned with 3000 tonnes capacity on 20 April 2012.<ref name=":1" /> Phase one of the uranium purification plant has a capacity to treat 3,000 tonnes of ore per day. The [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre]] (BARC) has developed an innovative, economically viable process for the recovery of low-grade uranium (less than 0.2%) from the Tummalapalle ore mine. As illustrated by Dr. A. K. Suri, Director of Materials Group, [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre|BARC]], "the main objective of making a techno-economically viable process flow-sheet is to reduce the number of stages of unit operations and conservations leachants(sic) by regeneration and recycle(sic) leading to minimisation of fresh water inventory as well as quantum(sic) of liquid effluent discharge for the most challenging low-grade uranium ore".<ref name="New method to recover low-grade uranium from Tummalapalle ore">
{{cite news
|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/150550/method-recover-low-grade-uranium.html
|title=New method to recover low-grade uranium from Tummalapalle ore
|date=1 April 2011
|work=[[Deccan Herald]]
|accessdate=3 August 2011
|location=Mumbai}}</ref>

The hydro-metallurgical uranium purification plant which would be constructed in the mine's current lease period, will treat the [[dolomite (mineral)|dolomite]] based uraniferous which is found in the deposits. On the mode of operation, the Uranium Corporation of India report stated that "in the initial period of operation of mine, ore will be received from decline having particle size of 80% passing through 10 cm screen and will be transported by covered dumpers from the mine site to the ore processing plant and later by covered conveyor".<ref name="URANIUM PROJECT AT TUMMALAPALLE - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY"/> This mine would be the first in the country to adopt [[alkali]] based [[Leaching (metallurgy)|leaching]] in place of the conventional [[acid]] based leaching method.<ref name="First reactor at Koodankulam to go critical by year-end: AEC Chairman">
{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/01/stories/2010080160620800.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110070850/http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/01/stories/2010080160620800.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=10 November 2012
|title=First reactor at Koodankulam to go critical by year-end: AEC Chairman
|date=1 August 2010
|accessdate=19 July 2011
|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]
|location=Chennai}}</ref> This process was chosen on the basis of the nature of the ore found in the site. [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre|BARC]] has developed a well-integrated flowsheet for the process to treat the low-grade uranium ore extracted from the alkaline host rocks in Tummalapalle.<ref name="New method to recover low-grade uranium from Tummalapalle ore"/>

==Minerals ==
The [[Fred Chester Bond|Bonds Work Index]] of the Tummalapalle uranium ore sample is 13.6 kWh/tonne and the mineralogical composition is as follows,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Suri|first=A.K|title=Innovative process flowsheet for the recovery of Uranium from Tummalapalle Ore|publisher=[[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre|BARC]]|issue=317|date=November–December 2010|url=http://www.barc.ernet.in/publications/nl/2010/2010111205.pdf|accessdate=3 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927122845/http://www.barc.ernet.in/publications/nl/2010/2010111205.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Mineral !! % Weight
|-
|[[Carbonate]]s
|83.2
|-
|[[Quartz]] + [[feldspar]]
|11.3
|-
|[[Apatite]]
|4.3
|-
|[[Pyrite]]
|0.47
|-
|[[Chalcopyrite]]
|0.05
|-
|[[Galena]]
|Traces
|-
|[[Magnetite]]
|0.15
|-
|[[Ilmenite]] + [[leucoxene]]
|0.25
|-
|Iron hydroxide ([[goethite]])
|0.27
|-
|[[Pitchblende]] in association with pyrite
|0.1
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''100.0'''
|}

==See also==
* [[Nuclear power in India]]
* [[Energy policy of India]]
* [[List of uranium mines]]
* [[Uranium market]]
* [[Uranium mining debate]]
* [[Uranium reserves]]
* [[Peak uranium]]
* [[Uranium mining controversy in Kakadu National Park]]
* [[Uranium metallurgy]]
{{Portal bar|India|Geology|Nuclear technology|Energy}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110714193847/http://www.ucil.gov.in/web/index.asp Uranium Corporation of India] – Official Website
* [http://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/documents/RawMaterials/TM_LGUO/3c%20Suri%20Alkaline%20Process.pdf Process development studies for lowgrade Uranium deposits in alkaline host rocks of Tummalapalle] Research paper of BARC at IAEA TM on Low Grade Uranium Deposits Vienna, 29 March 31, 2010
* [http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2924/stories/20121214292409000.htm fuel of future]
{{Nuclear power in India}}

[[Category:Uranium mines in India]]
[[Category:Mining in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Geography of Kadapa district]]
[[Category:2007 establishments in Andhra Pradesh]]

Tummalapalle uranium mine - Revision history

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