India needs uranium. It is looking everywhere

India's ambition to expand its nuclear power capacity rapidly has led the nation to seek uranium supplies from various sources worldwide. With the government targeting 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, India is negotiating with Central Asian nations, Australia, and North America to secure the necessary fuel for its reactors. The strategy complements a shift in domestic nuclear policy that will allow private companies to participate in power generation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Uzbekistan resulted in an agreement for a long-term uranium supply framework. India's nuclear expansion will require significantly more fuel than the country currently produces domestically, with a 100-GW nuclear fleet potentially needing 18,000-20,000 tonnes of natural uranium annually. India currently operates 24 nuclear reactors with a total capacity of about 8.78 GW.

The government's Nuclear Energy Mission aims to increase nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047, with an intermediate target of about 22 GW by 2031-32. India's uranium reserves are scattered across Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Meghalaya, but domestic availability has historically been a constraint. Seeking multiple sources of uranium has become a crucial part of India's energy strategy, prompting the nation to explore relationships with major uranium producers.