A NEW mine in south India could contain the largest reserves of uranium in the world, a government official said in remarks reported on Tuesday, signalling a major boost for the energy-hungry nation.

The Tumalapalli mine in Andhra Pradesh state could provide up to 150,000 tonnes of uranium, Srikumar Banerjee, secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, told reporters after a four-year survey of the site was completed.

'It's confirmed that the mine has 49,000 tonnes of ore, and there are indications that the total quantity could be three times that amount,' Mr Banerjee was quoted as saying in The Times of India.

'If that be the case, it will become the largest uranium mine in the world,' he said.

Previous estimates suggested that only about 15,000 tonnes of uranium would be produced at the mine, which is due to start operating by the end of the year.