India fast-tracks atomic mineral exploration for nuclear power surge

• The Indian government is pushing the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) to fast-track exploration for uranium, thorium, lithium, and rare earth elements.
• This initiative supports India's goal to increase nuclear power capacity tenfold, from 8 GW to 100 GW by 2047.
• Annual natural uranium demand is projected to surge to over 8,000 tonnes by 2047, up from around 3,600 tonnes in the early 2030s.
• The expanded exploration aims to reduce import dependence and secure a long-term mineral base for India's growing civil nuclear program.
• Currently, domestic uranium meets only a small fraction of India's nuclear fuel needs, with plans to nearly quadruple imports and diversify sources.

Why It Matters: Securing atomic minerals is crucial for India's massive nuclear power expansion.