Former president A P J Abdul Kalam on Thursday advocated the use of thorium deposits apart from uranium to generate nuclear energy for meeting India's burgeoning needs.
HYDERABAD: Former president A P J Abdul Kalam on Thursday advocated the use of thorium deposits apart from uranium to generate nuclear energy for meeting India's burgeoning needs.
Interacting with about 1,000 students at the 58th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2007) here, Kalam said if India had to generate about 400,000 MW of power by 2020, it was essential to utilise thorium deposits, which were abundantly available in the country, especially in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
"At the moment, we are generating thermal power from coal-based and gas-based plants and hydro power, accounting for about 85 percent of the total energy produced, which is about 130,000 MW. The balance is from nuclear plants and wind power. So, I believe we need nuclear reactors to generate more energy.
"We are, however, using uranium to produce nuclear power. As we don't have sufficient uranium deposits to last longer, we must use thorium, which is available in tremendous amount of deposits. We have to convert it into fissile material using fast-breeder reactors," Kalam said, responding to queries from the students.
"Thorium reactors are the future," he said.
Admitting that extensive research was needed to tap the deposits and build thorium reactors, the former president and top scientist said the state-owned nuclear sector might take five-seven years more to do this.
"Whatever happens, we should give the highest priority to thorium nuclear power."
Expressing concern over the imminent depletion of fossil fuels in the next 20-40 years, Kalam said power generation from nuclear reactors would enable protection of conventional resources for a longer time.
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