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India Must Swiftly Shift to Thorium for Energy Independence: Kakodkar

Former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar emphasizes that India must achieve energy independence by transitioning its nuclear program from uranium to its abundant domestic thorium reserves. While Civil Nuclear Cooperation agreements enabled uranium imports, securing long-term, sufficient supplies remains a challenge due to finite global resources and competition. Kakodkar notes that India's reactors are now running at full capacity and new ones are being built, supporting a government mission for 100 gigawatts of nuclear power. However, the ultimate solution for sustainable and secure energy lies in rapidly developing and deploying thorium-based nuclear technology.

Key Points: India's Thorium Path to Energy Independence | Anil Kakodkar

  • Transition to thorium is crucial for energy independence
  • Domestic uranium supply is limited despite new discoveries
  • Imported uranium faces global demand and price issues
  • India's nuclear mission targets 100 gigawatts capacity
2 min read

India must quickly transition from uranium to thorium to become energy independent: Anil Kakodkar

Former AEC chief Anil Kakodkar urges India to transition from uranium to abundant domestic thorium to achieve true energy independence.

"We should very quickly transition from uranium to thorium. And that is the key. - Anil Kakodkar"

New Delhi, Jan 15

India must essentially become energy independent, and turning focus to thorium -- found in abundance in the country -- from uranium is important, said Anil Kakodkar, former chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, and its current member, on Thursday.

Speaking to IANS, Kakodkar spoke on the importance of thorium in India's nuclear energy programme.

"Earlier, it was the problem of the supply of uranium, which was necessary to kick off, which happened. But we cannot be permanently dependent. We have to become energy independent. For that, we will have to depend on energy sources of our own soil," said the Secretary to the Government of India.

"Now, as far as nuclear is concerned, we have abundant thorium. So, we should very quickly transition from uranium to thorium. And that is the key," he added.

Kakodkar, a nuclear physicist and mechanical engineer, also spoke about how India developed all the technology in a self-reliant manner.

While the country now has the best reactor system, and it is performing extremely well, the main challenge, however, has been fuel.

All the reactors depend on uranium, and the availability of uranium of the right quality within the country is limited. Although more uranium resources have been discovered, they are still insufficient.

Entering into Civil Nuclear Cooperation paved the way for uranium imports, which were not possible earlier, said Kakodkar.

India made agreements with countries like the US, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Australia to gain crucial uranium fuel for India's growing civilian nuclear power programme.

With access to imported uranium, "our reactors are now running at full capacity, and overall capacity is steadily increasing. New reactors are being set up, and the government has planned a nuclear energy mission targeting 100 gigawatts," the expert said.

However, global demand for uranium is increasing, and its total availability in the world is finite. Thus, countries can only secure limited supplies.

"You can't get all of it for yourself. For that matter, even if you take a somewhat higher proportion, there will be restrictions, there will be problems, there will be price issues. So, I think, going forward, we have to address this challenge," Kakodkar said.

"While the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement helped us to come this far, we must now focus on thorium. We must focus on thorium now," he told IANS.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
A very important point made by Dr. Kakodkar. But "quickly transition" is easier said than done. Thorium reactors are not commercially proven yet. We need massive investment in R&D and building a skilled workforce. Hope the budget allocates funds for this.
R
Rohit P
This is the kind of long-term thinking we need. Solar and wind are good, but for base-load power that runs 24/7, nuclear is essential. If we can master the thorium fuel cycle, it will be a game-changer for India's development. 🇮🇳
S
Sarah B
As someone working in the renewable sector, I appreciate this perspective. A diversified energy mix is key. Thorium-based nuclear could complement renewables beautifully, providing stable power when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.
V
Vikram M
With all due respect to the expert, we've been hearing about the promise of thorium for decades. The PFBR in Kalpakkam has faced delays. We need clear timelines and accountability, not just statements. The public deserves to know the roadmap.
K
Karthik V
True energy independence means using what we have. We have thorium, we have sunlight. Let's invest heavily in both. This will create lakhs of jobs and keep our energy future in our own hands. Jai Hind!

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