ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The government has prepared a $600 million extensive plan for exploring and mining uranium deposits in the country to fuel future nuclear power plants (NPPs).

Informed sources told Dawn on Wednesday that uranium deposits so far discovered in `Siwalik rocks’ in some parts of central Punjab were of low grade. However, by applying new mining technique, good quality uranium could be produced at a competitive rate with a view to progressively developing the uranium mining sector.

The mineral sector is required to produce 350 tons of yellow cake (U3O8) per year by 2015 for meeting one-third requirements of the planned NPPs.

The mining of uranium will be undertaken at three sites -- Bannu Basin, Suleman Range-3 and Suleman Range-4 in Dera Ghazi Khan -- to produce the required fuel for NPPs. Through these NPPs, the government wants to produce 8,800mw of electricity by 2030.

The sources said that Pakistan had been forced to develop its own uranium resource programme as none of developed countries was ready to supply the required amount of uranium to help feed Pakistan's reactors.

The directorate general of mining projects has been entrusted with the task of developing new uranium resources. He will ensure indigenous source of fuel supply for nuclear power plants.

All the needed management structure and manpower requirements, including specialised skills, will be provided to the director general of mining projects during execution and operational phases.