Lok Sabha Question No. 3318 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Thorium based Nuclear Energy
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3318

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## THORIUM BASED NUCLEAR ENERGY

## 3318.   SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted/proposes  to  conduct  any  study  on  the feasibility of Thorium as a fuel for the generation of atomic energy in the country and if so, the details and the outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the country has the world's largest proven reserves of Thorium and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the said Thorium reserves in the country has the potential to satisfactorily meet the overall energy requirement of the country and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken with regard to the utilisation of the said reserves; and
- (d) the  current  status  with  regard  to  the  research  and  development  of  the  Advance Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) along with the cause of delay, if any, reported in the development of the said reactor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :

- (a) Other  than  natural  Uranium,  Thorium  is  the  only  other  naturally  occurring  nuclear material that can be used to generate nuclear power. However, Thorium has to be converted to Uranium-233 in a reactor before it can be used as fuel. The 3 rd stage of Indian  Nuclear  Power  Programme  of  DAE  is  entirely  based  on  effective  use  of Thorium in a self sustaining closed fuel cycle option. Hence, DAE has planned the use  of  large  deposits  of  thorium  available  in  the  country  as  a  long-term  option. Various feasibility  studies  and  vision  documents  have  been  prepared to  shape the third  stage  of  our  nuclear  power  programme  wherein  thorium  will  be  utilized  on  a large  scale.  These  studies  provide  a  roadmap for  technology  development  and for deployment of thorium based systems. The main elements in this road map include demonstrating the use of thorium on an industrial scale in Advanced Heavy Water Reactor. This experience will provide the way forward for development of technologies required for various advanced reactors like the Molten Salt Reactors, High Temperature Reactors and Accelerator Driven Reactor Systems.

- (b) The total resource of monazite contained in 128 deposits is 12.47 million tonne (Mt)  [as  on  February,  2017]  as  has  been  established  by  the  Atomic  Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD). Monazite in the placer deposits of  India contains on an average 9-10% ThO2. The monazite resource (12.47Mt) contains  about  1.12  million  tonne  ThO2.  State-wise  details  of in  situ monazite resource established by AMD are given below.
- (c) Fast breeder reactors (FBR) are planned to be built in the second stage of our nuclear power programme. These reactors will be loaded with Thorium fuel for breeding  U233  after  sufficient  capacity  (MWe)  of  FBR  is  built.  Thorium  with inbred U233 will be loaded in breeder reactor of third stage for self sustaining fuel cycle and energy production.

| State          |   No. of deposits |   Resource (Mt) |
|----------------|-------------------|-----------------|
| Odisha         |                10 |           3.06  |
| Andhra Pradesh |                26 |           3.69  |
| Tamil Nadu     |                51 |           2.46  |
| Kerala         |                35 |           1.84  |
| Maharashtra    |                 3 |           0.004 |
| Gujarat        |                 1 |           0.003 |
| West Bengal    |                 1 |           1.2   |
| Jharkhand      |                 1 |           0.21  |
| Total          |               128 |          12.47  |

Potential of Plutonium based FBR is 500 GWe (beyond year 2055) and that of Thorium reactor is > 600 GWe (beyond year 2065)

Design  of  300  MWe  Advanced  Heavy  Water  Reactor  (AHWR)  using  thorium based  fuel  has  been  completed.  This  reactor  will  serve  as  a  technology demonstrator  for  not  only  the  thorium  fuel  cycle  technologies,  but  also  several advanced passive safety features.

A Critical Facility has been constructed in BARC, and is being used for carrying out experiments to further validate the physics design features of AHWR.

- (d) The 300 MWe AHWR designed by BARC is intended to serve as a technology demonstrator  for  Thorium  utilisation  as  well  as  for  validating  several  advanced safety  features  that  have  been  incorporated  in  the  design  of  this  reactor.  The design  of  all  nuclear  systems  of  the  reactor  has  been  completed.  Several innovative  features  of  the  design  are  being  validated  through  large  scale engineering experiments. In order to facilitate an early scrutiny of the innovative features  of  the  design  from  the  safety  considerations,  a  Pre-Licensing  Design Safety  appraisal  of  the  reactor  has  been  completed  by  the  Atomic  Energy Regulatory  Board.  Construction  of  this  reactor  can begin  after  associated statutory  and  regulatory  clearances  are  obtained  and  financial  sanction  for  the project is obtained.

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