These rules are notified under the provisions of the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002.
About the Rules
- Objective - To regulate the exploration and mining of atomic minerals like uranium and thorium in offshore areas
- Rules will only apply if the concentration of atomic minerals is above a certain minimum level
- Under the rules, entities nominated by the government can be granted exploration licenses or production leases.
- In case of foreign entities undertaking exploration operations, prior approval shall be obtained from the Government authorities.
Key Atomic Minerals in India
- Uranium
- Key Reserves: Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Rajasthan etc.
- Jaduguda (Jharkhand) is the first mine in the country to produce uranium ore on a commercial scale.
- Other Important Mines: Lambapur-Peddagattu (AP), Bagjata mine (Jharkhand), etc.
- Most of uranium deposits in India small and of far lower grade compared to those in the leading uranium-producing countries in the world.
- Thorium
- India has a limited resource of uranium but a large resource of thorium.
- Monazite contains about 8 – 10% thorium.
- The beach sands of Kerala and Orissa have rich reserves of monazite.