Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), has identified lithium resources in the Mandya and Yadgiri districts of Karnataka. Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the discovery of 1,600 tonnes (G3 stage) of lithium in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district. Preliminary surveys and limited subsurface exploration were also carried out in Yadgiri district.
Discovery Of Lithium Resources In Karnataka
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- Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), has identified lithium resources in the Mandya and Yadgiri districts of Karnataka.
- Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the discovery of 1,600 tonnes (G3 stage) of lithium in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district. Preliminary surveys and limited subsurface exploration were also carried out in Yadgiri district.
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- AMD is exploring for Lithium in the potential geological domains in parts of Korba District, Chhattisgarh. However, the major mica belts located in Rajasthan, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh and Pegmatite Belts in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka are the potential geological domains in the country for Lithium resources.
- Dr Singh further informed that a preliminary survey carried out recently by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in Himachal Pradesh has led to the identification of surface uranium occurrence in Masanbal, Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh.
- He categorically mentioned that the Atomic Energy Commission has not conducted any study to establish an atomic energy plant in Himachal Pradesh.
- He also recalled that the Governments of India and the Russian Federation expressed interest in expanding the cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes including cooperation in the field of Small Modular Reactor.
- Minister said the Department of Atomic Energy had taken note of the developments and recent trends worldwide in the field of small modular reactors. While the different technologies and designs of small modular reactors, as published by different countries and foreign-based vendors, were being studied for gathering technical details, no proposal to collaborate with foreign vendors/ countries was under consideration at present.
- He also shared that at present, no private player has shown interest in producing small modular reactors. “However, a few private players have shown interest in deploying small reactors in their captive site,” he added.
Nuclear Power Capacity
- Dr Singh noted that the current installed nuclear power capacity in the country is 8,180 MW, spread across 24 nuclear power reactors.
- According to the written reply at present 21 reactors with a total capacity of 15300 MW are at various stages of implementation by Nuclear Power Corporation India Limited (NPCIL).
- Nine (09) reactors with a total capacity of 7300 MW [including Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidhyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI)] under construction and twelve (12) reactors with a capacity of 8000 MW [including 2 X 500 MW twin unit of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR) by BHAVINI] are under pre-project activities.
