UCIL chairman-cum-managing director Dr K Anand Rao said UCIL is committed to play a leading role to ensure the supply of nuclear fuel and to contribute to the government's target of 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047. He made the remarks while hoisting the tricolour at the company's Jaduguda premises about 30 km from Jamshedpur on the 80th Independence Day. He referred to a directive from the Prime Minister that emphasised UCIL's role in the national nuclear energy programme and the vision of Vikshit Bharat by 2047. Rao said the public sector unit has been continuously enhancing its mining and processing capacities to achieve the target and noted that operations at existing uranium mines in Jharkhand remain central to the effort. He said UCIL has also taken steps to explore and undertake mining activities at potential sites elsewhere in the country, including Tummalapalle in Andhra Pradesh. The company is preparing to observe its diamond jubilee from October fourth. He outlined plans to increase capacity at the Tummalapalle plant and to set up a new tailing pond to ensure smooth operation, and described an agreement to utilise the tailing pond of Hindustan Copper Limited for extraction and processing of uranium present there. Rao said efforts are under way to secure environmental clearances for the proposed Rohil project in Sikar district of Rajasthan even as mine development progresses. A tender has been floated for the Banduhurang opencast mine which he described as a lifeline that will augment production feeding the Jaduguda and Turamdih mills. He also paid tribute to past and present officials and employees for their role in six decades of work towards self-reliance in the nuclear energy sector and said production balance is being maintained while expansion proceeds. The company expects the planned measures to support supply of nuclear fuel needed for future capacity and to contribute to national energy security and development goals. UCIL will continue to pursue mining, processing and regulatory approvals to meet its stated priorities.