Govt nod for uranium enrichment project

An uranium enrichment project aimed at meeting the uranium fuel requirements of the nuclear-power programme is expected to commence soon with the government deciding to give over Rs 13 crore to Andhra Pradesh for land acquisition.

Uranium in its natural state is unusable for power generation. It has to undergo  an enrichment process so as to increase its uranium content via a process of isotope separation.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today gave its approval to deposit Rs 13.7 crore for the land acquisition for the Tummalapalle Mining and Milling Project.

"The approval of the project will meet the uranium fuel requirement of the nuclear-power programme," Finance Minsiter P Chidambaram said.