Nuclear Power : An Nuclear Power : An inevitable option for inevitable option for

sustainable sustainable developmentdevelopment

IAEA Scientific Forum 2007 on Global Challenges and Development of Atomic Energy, Vienna

September 18-19 , 2007

Anil Kakodkar, Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, IndiaChairman, Atomic Energy Commission, India

• Greater confidence in developing societies moving up on the socio-economic development path

• Vastly enhanced energy demand and buying power

• Sustainability of energy resources (even Uranium in once-through mode inadequate)

• Global environment on the cliff edge

Evolving paradigmEvolving paradigm

Indian target - in global contextIndian target - in global context(Source of data: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2007)

1150993

727636 584 571

4254

2834

550431 513573

847

3611

1081989

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

USA China Japan Russia India Germany Canada France

Ele

ctr

icit

y G

enera

tion (

TW

h)

20061996

Target: 7000 TW(e)h + Requirement for fossil fluid fuel replacement

The pathways for utilisation of nuclear fuel The pathways for utilisation of nuclear fuel resourcesresources

Fertile

233UThorium Fuelled Reactors-Thorium Fuelled Reactors-

AHWRs, FBRs, HTRs, MSRsAHWRs, FBRs, HTRs, MSRs

239Pu

FBRsFBRs

Nature

Conversion inReactor

232Th238U (99.3%)

Fissile

235U(0.7%)

PHWRs LWRs

Uranium Thorium

Reprocessing of Spent Fuel

• Thorium cannot straightway be used as nuclear fuel as it has no fissile isotopes.

• Fast Breeder Reactors operating with Plutonium as fuel, produce more Plutonium than they consume.

Development of an optimum strategy for Development of an optimum strategy for utilisation of given nuclear resourcesutilisation of given nuclear resources

0 25 50 75 100 125 1500

50

100

150

200

250

300

Inst

alle

d C

apac

ity (

GW

e)

Years0 25 50 75 100 125 150

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Inst

alle

d C

apac

ity (

GW

e)

Years0 25 50 75 100 125 150

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Inst

alle

d C

apac

ity (

GW

e)

Years

10 GWe for 40 yrs from PHWRs usinguranium in once-

through cycle

174 GWe for 10-12 yrs from FBRs using recycled

uranium & Plutonium

300 GWe for more than 250 yrs from FBRs using Plutonium-

thorium and from reactors using thorium-233U

Nat. U PHWRS

RU-Pu based FBRS

Th-Pu based FBRS

Th-U233 MSRs

Optimum time for introduction of

thorium on large scale

(After introduction of short-doubling-time FBRs)

Global Nuclear RenaissanceGlobal Nuclear Renaissance

• Safety• Environment• Non-Proliferation(Technology solutions

backed up by institutional control and responsible behaviour)

• Enhanced security risk to future generations in case of direct disposal of spent fuel (Plutonium mines)

• Tensions due to energy insecurity

• Reformation of global thinking necessary

• Consensus on closed nuclear fuel cycle

Risks

v/s

However, inclusive partnerships on objective, reliable and However, inclusive partnerships on objective, reliable and predictable basis with holistic mutual understanding and predictable basis with holistic mutual understanding and trust is a pre-requisitetrust is a pre-requisite

Thank You