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?
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is not the correct explanation for Statement I
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
(d) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Ans: c
Explanation:
The major uranium deposits of the country occur in geological basins of the Singhbhum shear zone (Jharkhand), Cuddapah basin (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), Mahadek basin (Meghalaya), Delhi Supergroup of rocks (Rajasthan) and Bhima basin (Karnataka).
Installed Generation Capacity (Fuelwise)
| Category | Installed Generation Capacity (GW) | % Share in Total |
| Coal | 210.970 | 47.4% |
| Lignite | 6.620 | 1.5% |
| Gas | 24.818 | 5.6% |
| Diesel | 0.589 | 0.1% |
| Total Fossil Fuel | 242.997 | 54.6% |
| Renewable Energy | 193.580 | 43.5% |
| Hydro | 46.928 | 10.6% |
| Wind | 46.422 | 10.4% |
| Solar | 84.277 | 18.9% |
| BM Power/Cogen. | 10.355 | 2.3% |
| Waste to Energy | 0.591 | 0.1% |
| Small hydro Power | 5.005 | 1.1% |
| Nuclear | 8.180 | 1.8% |
| Total Non-Fossil Fuel | 201.760 | 45.4% |
| Total Installed Capacity(Fossil Fuel & Non-Fossil Fuel) | 444.757 | 100% |
In India, power is generated from conventional (Thermal, Nuclear & Hydro) and renewable sources (Wind, Solar, Biomass etc.). However, major production of Electricity is achieved through coal a thermal power plant.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Uranium found in nature consists largely of two isotopes: U-235 and U-238. The production of energy in nuclear reactors is from the ‘fission’ or splitting of the U-235 atoms, a process which releases energy in the form of heat. Natural uranium contains 0.7% of the U-235 isotope. Most reactors are light water reactors (of two types- PWR and BWR) and require uranium to be enriched from 0.7% to 3-5% U-235 in their fuel. This is normal low-enriched uranium (LEU). There is some interest in taking enrichment levels to about 7% and even close to 20% for certain special power sector fuels.
Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
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