Coal news and updates

Jaduguda mine lease cleared by Jharkhand govt

October 30: The mine lease for the closed uranium mine at Jaduguda has been cleared by the Jharkhand government, but operations at the mine are yet to start, a source at Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) told ICMW.

“The state cabinet has cleared UCIL’s lease case and the matter is under process. The mine, however, is still closed,” the source said.

The Jaduguda mine was closed on September 7 as the Jharkhand government ordered its closure following the Centre's directive on July 18, asking states to clamp down on mines that are operating under second or third deemed renewals.

The closure of Jaduguda, which was the first uranium mine in India, has affected supply of the fuel at the nuclear power plants in the country, the source said.

UCIL’s first lease for the mine had expired in 2007 and the company had applied for the next lease which was to be valid from 2007 to 2027.