A Parliamentary committee has called for significant reforms in regulations governing uranium mining to expedite approvals. The committee aims to establish time-bound single-window clearances and facilitate contiguous lease extensions. These reforms are designed to enhance project timelines and ensure a consistent supply of fuel for India’s Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) system.

The suggestions are outlined in a report focused on regulatory improvements for strategic minerals. While the government has provided interim responses to the committee’s proposals, a final decision has yet to be disclosed. The panel pointed out the complications arising from newly identified or deeper ore bodies that extend beyond current lease specifications, highlighting the limitations of the existing framework under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR).

Challenges Facing Uranium Mining Projects

The committee recognised that the current MMDR provisions do not allow for seamless lease-area extensions, which necessitates the acquisition of new leases along with separate regulatory approvals. This situation adversely impacts the economic feasibility of projects, particularly for deeper deposits such as those located at Narwapahar, which lie beyond 600 metres.

Furthermore, the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) faces hurdles in securing necessary approvals from various entities, including the Ministries of Environment and Forests, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), and the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), among others. The requirement to navigate multiple layers of agency permissions contributes to extended project timelines, which could jeopardise planning efforts for fuel supply to PHWR reactors.

The panel’s report emphasised the need for reforms that would alleviate these burdens, recommending the amendment of relevant sections of the MMDR Act to facilitate contiguous lease extensions for uranium mining, while ensuring rigorous environmental and safety standards are met.

Proposed Framework for Streamlined Operations

In addition to legislative recommendations, the committee suggested establishing a single-window clearance system that would incorporate both Central and State approvals for uranium mining and milling projects. This system would enable parallel processing of necessary permissions, which could significantly reduce the time from permit to production.

The committee also proposed a comprehensive State-level framework addressing critical areas such as land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement for project-affected persons (PAP), assured industrial water supply, and off-site emergency planning strategies. It is intended that these measures would create a more supportive environment for the execution of uranium mining initiatives.

Another recommendation involves the formation of a coordination platform led by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to tackle inter-ministerial challenges, thereby improving communication and reducing bottlenecks in the approval process. According to the committee, these adjustments will substantially enhance UCIL’s capacity to consistently supply uranium to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).

Awaiting Final Government Actions

The Ministry has furnished interim feedback about the recommendations but has not yet implemented any final changes to the MMDR provisions or established the proposed single-window mechanism. The formation of the DAE-led coordination platform remains pending, indicating that the execution of these reforms is still under consideration.

As India continues to enhance its nuclear energy capabilities, the committee underscored the necessity for greater regulatory certainty to mitigate risks associated with uranium production. This is vital to fulfilling the long-term fuel needs for the nation’s nuclear reactor programme, ensuring energy security and sustainability.

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