Tummalapalle uranium mine

The Tummalapalle Mine is a uranium mine in Tumalapalli village located in Kadapa of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Results from research conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission of India, in 2011, led the analysts to conclude that this mine might have one of the largest reserves of uranium in the world.

On 19 July 2011, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, Srikumar Banerjee, who was also the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, confirmed reserves of 49,000 tonnes and suggested that the actual amounts could be three times larger, which would make the Tummalapalle the mine with the world's largest uranium deposits. The estimates were subsequently increased to 85,000 tonnes in 2014.

Earlier, uranium reserves were found only up to a depth of about 250 meters. The latest findings reportedly indicate that the reserves run as deep as 1,000 metres.

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. 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 energy such as coal.