SHANTI Act: The nuclear landscape of India is undergoing a seismic shift with the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act. It has now emerged that Chicago-based Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will join hands to build thorium-fuelled reactors, paving the way to replace uranium.
A minority equity investment in CCTE has been approved by the Board of state-owned NTPC in a strategic early-stage participation effort. The stake infusion proposal by NTPC is subject to clearances from the Indian Ministry of Power.
SHANTI Act: Why is India Choosing Thorium Over Uranium?
India holds approximately 25 percent of global thorium (mostly monazite sands) that would help it slash import bills while boosting energy security at the same time. Also, Thorium-232 breeds Uranium-233 that would be helpful in producing less long-lived radioactive waste than uranium-plutonium cycles. Furthermore, there would be no Chernobyl repeats since Thorium reactors run cooler with negative temperature coefficients that self-regulate against meltdown.
In addition to these unique advantages, thorium is characterized by nearly complete fuel burn-up compared to just 1 percent of uranium. This will help in yielding more energy per unit. It will, in turn, helps in cutting costs long-term. Not only this, minimal plutonium by-product reduces environmental hazards that would make thorium an excellent choice for small modular reactors (SMRs) under SHANTI.
The Thorium Catalyst
The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act repeals outdated 1962 laws. It enables private players like NTPC in thorium tech. Moreover, the R&D expertise of CCTE pairs efficiently well with NTPC’s power infrastructure for prototype reactors. It would be helpful in removing liability barriers, empowering Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) regulations and inviting global thorium collaboration. Interestingly, India is already in talks with Russia and France on thorium collaboration.
