The press meet in progress at the Tata Steel press room in Bistupur. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, June 5: The future looks bright for the state?s nuclear energy sector with more uranium projects in the pipeline.

The country?s four uranium-related projects are all in Jharkhand and it seems that a national target of 20,000 MW of power generated by nuclear energy may be possible by 2020 because of a recent memorandum of understanding signed with USA in the energy sector.

Ramendra Gupta, chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) has his work cut out for him.

Speaking at the Press Club here, Gupta said the current national output is 4020 MW. It is expected to increase to 10180 MW by 2011-12.

There are four uranium-related projects in the state at Jadugoda, Bhatin, Narwapahar and Turmadih and a uranium process plant at Jadugoda.

Other plans for the state include another process plant at Turamadih and three more mines at Bandhurag, Bhagjata and Mohuludih.

The process plant will be operational by the end of this year and the three other mines will open by 2007, 2008 and 2010 respectively, Gupta said. The quality of uranium is, however, a problem. The deposits in the country are of a lower grade than those found in Australia and Canada. UCIL is working to rectify this.

The CMD also spoke about the uses of nuclear energy. ?It?s often in the news for the wrong reasons,? he said, adding that nuclear energy is used to cure cancer and is a source of power.