Thorium to replace uranium soon; India will become energy sector's superpower due to... (2025)

India has the potential to become a major energy superpower in the future.

New Delhi: India, Brazil, Australia and America have the largest reserves of thorium, according to the World Nuclear Association. Out of these countries, India has the world’s largest thorium reserves, which are mainly found in the coastal areas of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. With huge reserves of thorium, India has the potential to become a major energy superpower in the future. One kg of thorium will generate about one megawatt of electricity in a year, which is enough to power 1,000 homes, costing $1.5 million.

What is thorium?

Thorium is found in much greater quantities on Earth than uranium. Its advantage is that it can be used again and again. It can be used in nuclear reactors. According to the World Nuclear Association, thorium (Th) is a naturally occurring, radioactive metal that looks just like silver. It was first discovered in 1828 by Jons Jacob Berzelius. It is present on Earth in soil, rocks and water, especially in minerals such as monazite. Because of its radioactivity, it is important as a potential fuel source in nuclear power generation, as it can be converted into uranium-233, which can power nuclear reactors.

Thorium will be used in place of uranium in the future

It is currently used in lantern mantles, ceramic glazes and welding rods, but it is likely to be used in advanced nuclear reactors in the future. Thorium-based fuel cycles are believed to produce less long-term waste and may offer greater safety and efficiency than current uranium-based systems. The Indian government is focusing on the development of thorium-based reactors for nuclear power to achieve energy self-sufficiency.

Thorium will revolutionise the energy sector

Thorium is currently being used mainly in China and the USA. India aims to generate 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047. Reaching a burn-up of about 45 gigawatts per ton in thorium-based ANEEL fuel ensures a viable PHWR fuel that can bring small modular reactors (SMRs) with thorium molten salts into reality even sooner than imagined.

Add India.com as a Preferred Source

It will take time now, know the reason

Currently, India imports uranium to meet its nuclear energy needs. Due to the physical properties of thorium, its production alone is not possible. It is not possible to build a nuclear reactor using thorium. Thorium has to be converted into uranium-233 in the reactor before it can be used as fuel. This is the reason why India has not been able to use thorium directly till now. But when it starts being used, India will become a superpower in the energy sector. Let us tell you that in the second half of the 20th century, its use was stopped due to concerns about the radioactive properties of thorium.

HIGHLIGHTS

• India’s thorium reserves are mainly found in the coastal areas of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• One kg of thorium will generate about one megawatt of electricity in a year, which is enough to power 1,000 homes.
• Thorium is found in much greater quantities on Earth than uranium.
• Its advantage is that it can be used again and again and can be used in nuclear reactors.

Thorium is a naturally occurring, radioactive metal that looks just like silver. It is present on Earth in soil, rocks and water, especially in minerals such as monazite. It is important as a potential fuel source in nuclear power generation, as it can be converted into uranium-233, which can power nuclear reactors.