Lok Sabha Question No. 680 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Thorium Based Nuclear Power Projects
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Sanjay Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 680

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## THORIUM BASED NUCLEAR POWER PROJECTS

680.  Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the timeline of the three stage nuclear power projects;
- (b) whether there is a deadline to achieve self-sufficiency by developing a closed Thorium based Nuclear power cycle; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the time by when the three stage is likely to be fully realised ?

## ANSWER

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

(a)to(c)With a view to optimally utilise limited Uranium reserves and large Thorium reserves  in  the  country,  the  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  has  adopted  a three stage nuclear power programme, based on a closed nuclear fuel cycle, for generation of nuclear power and for achieving long term energy security. The  three  stage  nuclear  power  programme,  which  is  to  be  implemented sequentially,  aims  to  multiply  the  domestically  available  fissile  resources through  the  use  of  natural  Uranium  in  Pressurised  Heavy  Water  Reactors (first  stage),  followed  by  use  of  Plutonium  obtained  from  the  spent  fuel  of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors in Fast Breeder Reactors, in the second stage.  Large  scale  use  of  Thorium,  in  third  stage,  will  subsequently  follow making use of Uranium-233 that will be bred in Fast Breeder Reactors, when adequate nuclear installed capacity in the country has been achieved.

The  first  stage  comprising  of  Uranium  fuelled  Pressurised  Heavy  Water Reactors (PHWR) has reached commercial maturity and presently there are eighteen (18) PHWRs in operation and six  (6)  under construction. Another ten (10) PHWRs have been sanctioned to be implemented in fleet mode.

After  development  of  FBR  technologies,  using  Plutonium  as  fuel,  a  Fast Breeder  Test  Reactor  (FBTR)  is  in  operation  since  1985  and  has  helped studying  all  the  technologies  including  fuel  and  materials  for  large  power FBRs.  As  a  result,  a  500  MWe  Prototype  Fast  Breeder  Reactor  is  under initial stage of commissioning. Indigenous technology development is continuing for larger power - FBRs with high breeding ratio.

With  these  reactors,  it  would  be  possible  to  produce  more  fissile  material than consumed, leading to large scale deployment, to supply energy to the country for long time. On account of non-existence of any fissile isotope in naturally  occurring  Thorium  (unlike  that  existing  in  Uranium),  commercial utilisation of Thorium, on a significant scale, can begin only when abundant supply of either Uranium-233 or Plutonium resources are available. Accordingly,  the  utilisation  of  Thorium  as  a  practically  inexhaustible  energy source has been contemplated during the third stage of the Indian nuclear programme.  Upon the launch, followed by a significant growth of a Thorium based nuclear programme in this manner, it could be possible to maintain the achieved  level  of  nuclear  power  programme  with  Thorium  alone,  without additional  demands  on  Uranium  or  Plutonium  resources.  The  timeline  for second and third stage depends on breeding ratio achieved during second stage  and  reactors  designed  for  the  third  stage  and  their  subsequent deployment scenario.

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