Thorium could be a promising fuel for N-plants: Yoginder Alagh

Yoginder Alagh, well-known economist and a former union minister, today said that thorium could be a promising fuel for the nuclear plants in the country.

Algah delivered a lecture on `Transmission and Distribution of electricity in India: Regulation, Investment and efficiency', organised by the Faculty of Management Studies, Maharaja Sayajirao University, here.

During an interactive session later, Alagh said, "Thorium is much more abundant in nature than uranium. It can also be used as a nuclear fuel through breeding to fissile uranium 233."

When asked whether it was advisable for India to go ahead with nuclear power programme in the wake of crisis in Japan, he said, "Nuclear power plants in our country are safe."

Alagh criticised the Union government's policy on privatisation of Coal India Ltd without making any provision for allocation of coal for new thermal power projects.

"In developed countries, where coal industry is privatised, provisions for allocation of coal for public utility service are made," he said.