The plan is that as and when fuel is available, these reactors can come back to action. NPCIL officials said they are working on re-starting some of these reactors. A senior NPCIL official did admit: “We normally don’t undertake simultaneous shutdown of so many reactors.”

Officials choose to use the term “mismatch” because stating shortage would mean that all mining options have been fully exploited. While this play of word may help convey that more domestic uranium will be available soon, the fact is that long-term planning will be seriously affected if such mismatch continues.

In other words, the NPCIL has been able to provide breathing space for DAE to somehow increase uranium supply from the source. But sources admitted that the option of importing uranium was becoming increasingly vital given the kind of expansion planned.