(a) whether thorium is in abundance in the country;
(b) if so,the details thereof;
(c) whether any reactor has been designed that can run by the thorium;
(d) if so,the details thereof;
(e) whether thorium can replace uranium in the reactors for generation of power;and
(f) if so,the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(INDEPENDENT CHARGE), PMO, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS(SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a
constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy, has established 10.21 million
tonnes of monazite resources under all categories (indicated,infrerred and
speculative). Indian monazite contains about 9-10% of ThO2 and about 8,07,713
tonnes of Thorium metal can be recovered from the above resources.
(c) Yes, Sir.
(d) The Department of Atomic Energy has designed a 300 MWe advanced Heavy Water
Reactor to generate most of its power from thorium based fuel.
(e) Complete replacement of uranium by thorium in existing Indian Reactors is
not feasible without a major change in design.However,thorium has been used in a
few bundles of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors earlier.Large scale use of thorium
is planned in the 3rd stage of the Indian Nuclear Power Programme.
(f) The Department of Atomic Energy plans to initiate steps towards construction
of an Advanced Heavy Water Reactor, a mainly thorium based reactor, during the XI
Plan period.Large scale deployment of thorium for nuclear power generation is
envisaged to be carried out after adequate nuclear installed capacity using
Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors and Fast Breeder Reactors has been set up.