Thorium Energy and SHANTI Act Boost Nuclear Future
Why in the News ?
The SHANTI Act, 2025 aims to expand India’s nuclear energy sector and accelerate the use of thorium-based reactors, which could strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on imported uranium, supporting the government’s goal of achieving 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047.
SHANTI Act and India’s Nuclear Energy Expansion:
- The SHANTI Act, 2025 is expected to transform India’s atomic energy ecosystem by encouraging participation from private sector, academia, and industry.
- The legislation seeks to support India’s ambitious “100 GWe nuclear energy mission by 2047”, significantly expanding nuclear power generation capacity.
- Currently, India’s nuclear programme relies heavily on uranium-based reactors, requiring substantial imports of natural and enriched uranium.
- Domestic uranium reserves in India are limited and low-grade, making extraction expensive and raising concerns about long-term fuel supply security.
- Expanding nuclear capacity through thorium-based technologies could reduce reliance on imported uranium and enhance energy independence.
Role of Thorium and Advanced Reactor Technologies
- India possesses the world’s largest thorium reserves, mainly found in monazite sands along the coastal regions, especially in Kerala and Odisha.
- Thorium-based fuel cycles can potentially increase the energy output of nuclear fuel by 50–100 times through recycling technologies.
- India’s three-stage nuclear power programme envisions Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) as a bridge to large-scale thorium utilisation.
- The 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is nearing completion and will play a key role in producing uranium-233 from thorium for future reactors.
- Emerging technologies such as Thorium Molten Salt Reactors (TMSR) and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being explored to enable safer, flexible, and efficient nuclear power generation.
About India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Programme:● India’s nuclear energy strategy is based on the three-stage nuclear power programme, designed by Homi J. Bhabha to utilise the country’s limited uranium and abundant thorium resources. ● Stage 1: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) use natural uranium to generate electricity and produce plutonium as a by-product. ● Stage 2: Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) use plutonium-based fuel to generate power while producing more fissile material, including uranium-233 from thorium. ● Stage 3: Advanced thorium reactors will use uranium-233 and thorium fuel cycles to provide long-term sustainable nuclear energy. ● Successful implementation of this programme could enable large-scale, low-carbon energy generation and reduce proliferation risks, strengthening India’s long-term energy security. |