Q21.
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production. Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer
C
Explanation
I is correct: Atomic Minerals Directorate for and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), all over India established 3,82,675 tonnes in situ U3O8 in 47 deposits in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal and Maharashtra. However, in India major of Electricity is achieved through coal based power plant which is around 75% of the total generation. II is not correct: Uranium enriched to above 0.7% but less than 20% uranium- is defined as low enriched uranium (LEU). Most reactors use LEU that is about 3-5% uranium- Uranium enriched to more than 20% uranium-235 defined as highly enriched uranium (HEU). The global watchdog (IAEA) has found uranium particles to 83.7% purity - very close to weapons grade - Iran's underground Fordo site. Iran has been uranium to up to 60% purity since April 2021 a at which nonproliferation experts say Tehran has civilian use.