Production of Atomic Energy using Thorium

Rajya Sabha

India has formulated a three stage nuclear power programme to optimally use its modest uranium and vast thorium resources. Large scale thorium utilization is contemplated in the third stage of this programme, where Uranium-233 bred is Fast Breeder Reactors of the second stage, will be used together with thorium. The government has taken a number of steps to develop appropriate technologies for the utilization of thorium. A few of the major steps are:

1) Setting up the research reactor Kamini at Kalpakkam using Uranium-233 fuel obtained from irradiated thorium. The reactor has been operating since 1997. The fuel for the reactor is bred, reprocessed and fabricated indigenously.

2) Irradiation of thorium fuel bundles in research reactor at Trombay and in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) has been carried out.

3) Design and development of Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) using thorium based fuel. This reactor will serve as a technology demonstrator.

Around 2,00,000 GW-yr electricity potential exists in India using domestic thorium through the route of breeder technology.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri Prithviraj Chavan, in a written reply to a question by Shri Ram Jethmalani in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source: Press Inormation Bureau
Date: March 13, 2008