India's Uranium Corporation Plans to Double Yellowcake Output by 2036 to Power Nuclear Expansion

Key facts

• The Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL) plans to double its uranium oxide (yellowcake) production capacity by 2036 through new projects in Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and to increase capacity fourfold by 2047.
• UCIL's plan includes six nominated projects — five in Jharkhand and one each in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh — with seven more greenfield projects in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Karnataka awaiting Department of Atomic Energy nominations.
• India aims to raise its nuclear power capacity from the current 8.8 GW across 24 reactors to about 100 GW by 2047, with 13 GW of additional reactors under construction.
• The Nuclear Power Corporation of India targets about 54 GW by 2047 and at least 22 GW installed capacity by 2031-32, partly through ten 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors in fleet mode.
• India opened its civil nuclear sector to private and foreign participation through the Shanti Act, 2025, and plans five Small Modular Reactors by 2033 under the Rs 20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre support.
• India began commercial uranium mining at Jaduguda, Jharkhand in 1967, and currently operates six underground mines plus the open-cast mine at Bandhuhurang, Jharkhand.
• Indian uranium deposits contain less than 0.05% uranium versus a global mining average of over 0.12%, with about 1,000 kg of ore yielding only 280–300 grams of uranium concentrate.