UCIL aims to double uranium output by 2036 using new mines and copper waste

The Uranium Corporation of India Limited plans to double its domestic uranium production by 2036 through four new mining projects and a plan to recover uranium from copper mine waste. UCIL Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Kancham Anand Rao shared these details during a media workshop in Jaduguda on October 4 and 5, 2026.

Operations

Extraction from copper mine residue is expected to begin in 2029 or 2030 following an agreement with Hindustan Copper Limited. Hindustan Copper will continue mining and extracting the commercially useful portion of copper, while UCIL will use the remaining ninety-five percent of leftover material to recover uranium without any extra mining costs. The remaining waste will then be returned to Hindustan Copper. To boost interim production, UCIL is also developing four greenfield projects, including a major facility at Rohil in Rajasthan with a capacity of 2,500 tonnes per day, an early-stage project at Gogi in Karnataka, and two more planned in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Strategy

India's current nuclear power capacity is about 9 gigawatts, with UCIL supplying roughly a third of the required uranium from domestic sources while the country remains dependent on imports. Mr. Rao noted that India's long-term energy plan is to transition toward abundant domestic thorium reserves, though small amounts of uranium will still be needed for research and medical isotopes. He added that the recent entry of private companies into nuclear power generation will not compete with UCIL, because uranium mining stays under exclusive government control.

Context

Established in 1967 and based in Jaduguda, Jharkhand, UCIL is a public sector enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy and serves as India's sole company authorised to mine and process uranium ore. Nuclear energy plays a vital role in India's broader power generation mix and its long-term goals for clean energy transition.