Address: PO Jaduguda Mines
East Singhbum District, Jharkhand- 832 102
Telephone: 91-657-730122/730222
Fax: 91-657-730322
Email: uranium@satyam.net.in
Chairman and Managing Director: Mr. K.K. Beri
Subordinate to: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
Size: UCIL oversees five major facilities:
1. Jaduguda Uranium Mine and Mill
2. Bhatin Uranium Mine
3. Narwapahar Uranium Mine
4. Rakha Uranium Recovery Plant
5. Mosaboni Uranium Recovery Plant

Primary Function: Mining and processing of uranium ore to produce uranium concentrate for India's nuclear industry

Description and Activities:
The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) was founded in 1967 as a public sector enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Headquartered in Jaduguda, UCIL owns and operates three uranium mines and one uranium processing plant located on the Jaduguda Mine complex in the Singhbum East district of Jharkhand. The Jaduguda Mine complex is India's primary source of indigenously produced uranium. In addition, UCIL operates two uranium recovery plants at Rakha and Mosaboni to recover uranium concentrate from copper tailings. The Jaduguda Mine has been in operation since 1967 and can produce up to 200 Megatonnes (Mt) of yellowcake per year, although actual production has averaged 115Mt per year. It is the largest and first of India's uranium mines. Uranium deposits at the upper levels of the mine are nearing exhaustion. UCIL plans to extend the existing mine to exploit deposits below 555 meters; deposits are estimated to extend to 905 meters. The ore grade found in the mine is around 0.06 percent Uranium. The Bhatin Mine started operation in 1986 and is located 4km northwest of Jaduguda. The Narwapahar Uranium Mine began operations in 1995 and is located 10km from Jaduguda. Also located in the complex is the Jaduguda Uranium Mill that can process 170Mt of yellowcake per year. This facility is being expanded to 230Mt per year in order to handle additional uranium from the Narwapahar mine. The mill processes all of India's indigenously mined uranium, most of which is then shipped to the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) in Hyderabad.

In November 1998, the United States imposed sanctions on the Jaduguda, Narwapahar, and Turamdih facilities due to suspected nuclear weapons-related activities. Although most of the uranium mined and milled by UCIL is fabricated into fuel for India's commercial power reactors, at least some of the facility's output has contributed to the country's nuclear weapons program. Over the years, UCIL has faced several other challenges. Due to the low-grade of uranium located in the area, the mines and mill have suffered financial difficulties and lower than targeted output. Production at the mines has been lower than expected, resulting in a shortage of uranium needed for the commercial power plants. With the expected completion of at least two new indigenously built reactors, demands will increase and the challenge of meeting them will become more difficult. Also, UCIL has come under increasing pressure from local leaders and environmental groups over radiation leaks and health hazards from the facilities' tailing ponds. Environmental groups have raised concerns about the environmental damage and low-dose radiation from the mine. Over 35,000 people live within a 5km radius of the Jaduguda complex. Labor groups in particular have raised issues about the unsafe work conditions at the mine.

Key Sources: Andrew Koch, "Selected Indian Nuclear Facilities," Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), 1999; <http://cns.miis.edu/research/india/nuclear.htm>; DAE, "Annual Report: 2000-2001," Executive Summary available at <http://www.dae.gov.in/ar2001/execsum.htm>; "High-risk radiation" The Times of India, 5 October 2001: in "Indian Daily stresses need to plug failures in nuclear program," 5 October 2001, FBIS Document SAP20011005000018; J.L. Bhasin, Dr. Ashok Mohan, and K.K. Beri, "Expansion of Uranium Corporation of India Limited," Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), 28 March 2002, <http://www.dae.gov.in/ucilex.htm>; Royden D'Souza, "Jadugoda tribals live and breathe uranium," The Times of India, 29 September 2001: in "India: Radiation from uranium mines destroying lives of tribespeople at Jadugoda," 29 September 2001, FBIS Document SAP20010929000079; "High-risk radiation" The Times of India, 5 October 2001: in "Indian Daily stresses need to plug failures in nuclear program," 5 October 2001, FBIS Document SAP20011005000018; Royden D'Souza, "Jadugoda tribals live and breathe uranium," The Times of India, 29 September 2001: in "India: Radiation from uranium mines destroying lives of tribespeople at Jadugoda," 29 September 2001, FBIS Document SAP20010929000079; Scott Ludlam, "Nuclear India: A Report on the No Nukes Forum 1999 and the Jaduguda Uranium Mine," Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia Web Site, March 2000, <http://www.anawa.org.au/india/india.pdf>, "Uranium Corporation of India Ltd.," Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), 13 November 2002, <http://www.ucilindia.com>.

	Updated September 2003