Lok Sabha Question No. 2583 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Thorium-based Power Projects
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri G M Harish Balayogi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO -2583 ANSWERED ON 11/12/2024

## THORIUM-BASED POWER PROJECTS

## 2583.  SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) the details of thorium-based power projects currently operational and approved in the country;
- (b) the details of the amount of power generated from the said thorium-based power projects;
- (c) whether the Government has undertaken/plans to undertake any steps to establish molten salt nuclear power station in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  details  of  the  steps/initiatives  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  utilize  the  high thorium reserves in the country in power generation; and
- (e) whether India is a part/partner of thorium-based multilateral organizations and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Currently there is no thorium-based power projects approved or operational in the country.
- (c) Yes, studies have been initiated to look into the various aspects of this technology. Molten  salt  reactors  are  an  attractive  option  for  large  scale  self-sustainable utilization of thorium using the Uranium-233/Thorium fuel cycle.
- (d) Research & Development on Thorium utilisation continues to be a high priority R&D area of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Thorium (232Th) is a fertile material, which is required to be converted into a fissile material (233U) through irradiation in a nuclear reactor.  Spent fuel thus produced, is required to be reprocessed to recover 233U, thereafter fuel in the desired properties is produced using  this  233U.  In  this  regard,  necessary  R&D  is  being  carried  out.  Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and other research organisations attached with DAE are engaged in various  Thorium  related  R&D  activities.  Some  important highlights of these achievements and activities are the following:
- (i) Thorium Oxide (Thoria) pellets contained in bundles have been used in the initial cores of operating Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and valuable  experience  has  been  generated  in  operation  and  re-use  of  this irradiated thorium fuel.  Thoria based fuels have also been irradiated in the research reactors of BARC.  After such irradiation these fuel elements have been examined in the laboratories at BARC, yielding excellent results.
- (ii) The irradiated Thoria pins of research reactors have been reprocessed to obtain Uranium 233. The recovered Uranium-233 has been fabricated as fuel for the 30 kW (thermal) KAMINI reactor, which is in operation at a constituent  unit  of  DAE,  Indira  Gandhi  Centre  for  Atomic  Research (IGCAR) at Kalpakkam. This is the only reactor in the world operating with Uranium-233 fuel.
- (iii) The  technologies  for  fabrication  of  Thoria  based  fuel  pellets,  carrying Uranium-233, have been established.
- (iv) Studies have been also  carried out to use Thorium in different types of reactors with regard to  fuel  management,  reactor  control and  fuel utilisation.
- (v) In addition, BARC has an active programme for utilisation of Thorium in High Temperature Reactors, Molten Salt Breeder Reactor and Accelerator Driven Sub-critical System. Various technologies, fuels, and materials are also being developed for these innovative reactors and advanced energy systems.
- (e) India is a member state of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which is a multilateral organization.  India, as a member state, participate in IAEA events on thorium utilisation for knowledge sharing.

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