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Scientist Urges Earlier Thorium Use in India’s Nuclear Reactors

Anil Kakodkar says India should begin using thorium fuel in some of its nuclear reactors sooner.

India has large thorium reserves, but its current reactors mainly use uranium.

The country’s long-term plan is to use special reactors to turn thorium into a useful fuel called uranium-233.

Kakodkar thinks existing heavy-water reactors could also help start using thorium.

He says the fuel would need to be designed carefully so it does not require more uranium or make electricity more expensive.

India is already moving forward with fast breeder reactors, which are part of the three-stage plan.

A fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam reached criticality in April.

Kakodkar also warned that uranium supplies may become strained if countries build many more nuclear power plants.

He believes thorium should therefore become a long-term priority.

Key facts

Proposal: Introduce thorium-bearing, high-burn-up fuel into India’s pressurised heavy water reactor fleet.
Existing programme: India’s three-stage programme uses natural uranium reactors, fast breeder reactors and advanced thorium-fuelled reactors.
Nuclear capacity target: India is targeting 100 gigawatts-electric of nuclear capacity, with about half potentially supplied by indigenous pressurised heavy water reactors.
Recent milestone: India’s first indigenous fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam attained criticality in April.
Fuel concern: Kakodkar said global uranium resources could support about 550–750 gigawatts-electric through a once-through cycle.
Global projection: He cited a World Nuclear Association projection that global nuclear capacity could reach 1,400 gigawatts-electric by 2050.
Cost condition: Thorium use should not increase the cost of electricity from pressurised heavy water reactors or raise their uranium requirements.

indianexpress.com · 2 hrs ago