[a] whether the Government has explored the possibility of the use of thorium as
a fuel for nuclear rectors in view of its advantages over other existing fuel;
[b] if so, the details thereof alongwith steps taken to develop appropriate technology for allowing its use in the nuclear reactors in the country; and
[c] the time by which the said technology is likely to be made available to the reactors in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER`S OFFICE (SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)
(a) Yes Sir,
(b) The Government has taken steps to develop appropriate technology for the utilization
of thorium. Some of the steps are:
# The research reactor ‘Kamini’ at Kalpakkam uses uranium-233 fuel obtained from irradiated
thorium. The reactor has been operating since 1997. The fuel for this
reactor was bred, reprocessed and fabricated indigenously
# Irradiation of thorium based fuel has been carried out in ‘Cirus’ research reactor
at Trombay and in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors
# Design and development of Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) using thorium based
fuel has been in advanced stage. Pre-licensing safety review of AHWR has
been completed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)
# Construction of AHWR critical facility at BARC, which uses thorium based fuel has
been completed
# BARC has been developing technologies to reprocess irradiated thorium
fuel, and in fabricating Uranium-233 based fuel.
(c) The third stage of the ongoing three-stage Indian nuclear power programme
envisages deployment of nuclear reactors based on Uranium-233 obtained by irradiating
thorium. The Advanced Heavy Water Reactor critical facility for Validating the
physics design of AHWR is ready for commissioning. A prelicensing
safety approval of AHWR has been completed by the Atomic Energy
Regulatory Board (AERB). Its implementation as a power project is envisaged to start
in XI Plan period.