Uranium reserves are under exploration in several states of India. Now it is discovered that Arunachal Pradesh has a huge such reserve. The Indo-China border is only three kilometres away. Though there was no possibility of exploring Helibourne due to the snowy hills, scientists went to the farthest village of the Indian border in the Mechuka Valley to start the investigation. As uranium and gold reserves are hidden in the mountains of India, China is eyeing Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Geographical location of Mechuka
Mechuka or Menchuk is a small town located at an altitude of 6,000 feet (1,829 m) above sea level in the Mechuka Valley in Shi-Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The McMahon line after Menchuca separates the Indian territory and the Chinese sector. The city of Mechuka in the valley is surrounded by cedar trees and thorns. The River Yarigapu flows in the valley of Mechuka and is only 29 kilometers away from the Indo-China border. The nearest airport is Lilabari in Assam. Mechuka is part of the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. There was the only runway to the village before the construction of the modern road, which the Indian Air Force used to supply goods to the local people. Due to the possibility of getting uranium reserves here, the government allowed exploration in the Mechuka Valley, after which the Directorate of Atomic Minerals for exploration and research started functioning in collaboration with the central government.
Reserves at a depth of about 619 meters from the ground level
Reports say that discovery has been made at a depth of about 619 meters from the ground level in the valley of Mechuka located at Allo in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Uranium is used for the production of nuclear energy. The use of uranium in Arunachal Pradesh is due to its availability, and the political situation has made such activity more favourable. Efforts are also being made to discover uranium in Himachal Pradesh. In Manipur also, permission has been given for research of uranium reserves.
These states are also getting searched
In addition, work is also going on for exploration of uranium reserves in Assam, Nagaland, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand. Excavation has already begun by preserving the uranium site found on the high hills of Arunachal Pradesh, which has yielded good indications. Officials said, this is the first time in the country that a place is being reserve for exploration of uranium reserves.
How uranium is used
Uranium production worldwide in 2015 was 60,496 tonnes. All over the world, 70 per cent of uranium is produced in only three countries, Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia. These three countries give a thousand tonne producing apart.
Countries producing a thousand tons are Niger, Russia, Namibia, Uzbekistan, China, United Nations and Ukraine. Uranium obtained from mining is used almost entirely as a fuel in nuclear plants. The uranium ore content is first ground, so that all its particles are uniform. Then uranium is extracted by chemical reaction. After completion of this process, a yellow dry powder is obtained which is sold in the market of uranium as U3O8.
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