Mentors Comments:
- The question expects us to explain the raw material needed for the generation of atomic energy and explain the distribution of the resource.
- In the introduction explain why countries like India see nuclear energy as a crucial part of their energy matrix.
- Explain about the Indian three-stage nuclear programme – Indian Nuclear power program has three stages, the first stage requires Uranium, second stage- creates plutonium from Uranium and third stage requires thorium. Therefore, among all the radioactive elements- uranium and Thorium are the most critical for generation of Nuclear Energy.
- Discuss the distribution of uranium and thorium
- In the conclusion explain that India has diversified it’s procurement agreements with a large number of countries
Answer:
India imports almost 80% of her oil needs, generates 60% of her electricity from coal-based thermal power plants. However, these being fossil fuels, they are dwindling at quick rates. The geo-political scenario is volatile leading to energy insecurity of India. Many developing countries thus see nuclear energy as a potential for their energy security.
Energy matrix of India:
India’s current generation of power is about 2.03% which is very less. This is despite having 21 operational nuclear power plants across the country. Post Independence, three-stage nuclear programme was chalked out by Homi Jehangir Bhabha to secure India’s long-term energy independence.
The ultimate focus of the programme is on enabling the thorium reserves of India to be utilized in meeting the country’s energy requirements.
Distribution of Uranium and Thorium in India:
According to the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent Unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), India has 10.70 million tonnes of Monazite which contains 9,63,000 tonnes of Thorium Oxide (ThO2).
India’s thorium deposits, estimated at 360,000 tonnes, far outweigh its natural uranium deposits at 70,000 tonnes. The country’s thorium reserves make up 25 per cent of the global reserves. It can easily be used as a fuel to cut down on the import of Uranium from different countries.
Despite the presence of Uranium and Thorium reserves, our nuclear energy production is still at low levels. This is due to.
- Ever since India accessed to the global nuclear fuel market in 2008, the country has been one of the major nuclear fuel buyers. India imports most of the required Uranium from countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, and France and lately the deal with Canada and Australia have further enhanced India’s avenues to get Uranium from overseas.
- Due to the disturbed supply of Uranium from different countries, India’s nuclear power plants haven’t been able to deliver the projected amount of electricity. And the contribution of nuclear power plants was least as it failed to achieve even 50 per cent of the target in the first four years of the 12th Five Year Plan.
- Uranium extracted from the ore is first stored as uranium oxide concentrate, better known as yellowcake when is then enriched into Uranium-235 isotope, a fuel that can be put as pellets in the nuclear fuel assembly. As a result, it can’t be used in reactors directly. We are importing the yellow cakes.
- Much like uranium, thorium is also a fertile substance, but not a fissile substance by itself. It requires work to make a usable in a nuclear reactor. The process through which Thorium can be made usable in the reactor is a three-stage process.
Way Forward:
India’s signing of the nuclear deal with the USA in 2008 has given her opportunities to deal with other nuclear powers like France, Japan, Russia etc. India has diversified its procurement agreements with a large number of other countries too to step up the power generation from nuclear sources.
To keep continue the rapid development without impacting the environment and in limiting the carbon emission, nuclear energy is one of the most preferable solutions for the world as well as India. India should prioritize nuclear energy because of the few reasons:
1. Nuclear energy is a renewable energy and clean energy
2. Recently, India has ingeniously developed the nuclear reactor which has been successfully tested
3. India has a enough reserve of Thorium
4. Though the cost higher for setup rather than the conventional energy infrastructure setup but it produces more energy comparatively. Now newly developed one nuclear reactor can produce 500MW or more energy.
India has a three stage programme for nuclear power generation strategy. In first stage Uranium (U293) is used as input fuel which produces pultonium that is used to react with thorium in third stages to produce energy which is abundantly available in India. India has established its nuclear reactors in collaboration with different countries like US, Russia.
In its programme, there are two concerns that India has trying to address-1. Collaboration with different countries means working with different technologies, which is not uniform, 2. At the first stage India needs Uranium which is not abundantly available. India has invested effort on its R&D programme to built the capability of developing nuclear reactor and collaborated with International institutions (IEA) for the safety aspect. For other concern, India has signed and increased diplomacy for uranium producing county like Canada, Australia, Kazaksthan, US for its uranium import.
Though Uranium, thorium, plutonium is available in east and west coastal states like AP, Telangana it is not sufficient for its complete reliability to carry on its nuclear programme. Investing more in R&D, Diversification of importing basket, carry on more exploration in nuclear mining will make it to fulfill its energy target which is its 40% energy will be from non-fossil fuel by 2030.
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In terms of structure, the only issue is the last part. What you have discussed in the subheading of “India’s Civil Nuclear Procurement Agreements” should be brief and not this detailed. In fact, it should be a part of the conclusion and not the last part of the main body.
Rest of the answer is well attempted.
The content is rich and exhaustive.
Well explained points.
The discussion is apt.
What stands out is your use of diagrams and flowcharts.
They are so well managed that they have their own content in them and it is informative. That saves a lot of space and words. Extra marks for that
For rapidly developing economy such as India, nuclear energy can make a vitally important contribution to growth. Discuss the availability of raw material required for “the generation of atomic energy in India and in the world.” (15 Marks)
Nuclear energy is a significant source of energy for many countries, including India, and has the potential to make a significant contribution to economic growth. However, the availability of raw materials required for the generation of atomic energy is a critical factor in determining the feasibility of nuclear energy as a source of power.
One of the key raw materials required for nuclear energy is uranium, which is used as a fuel for nuclear reactors. Uranium is a relatively rare element, and its distribution is uneven around the world. The largest producers of uranium are currently Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia, which together account for around two-thirds of global production.
In India, uranium is found in small quantities in several states, including Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Meghalaya. India has also entered into agreements with other countries for the import of uranium, including Russia, Kazakhstan, and Canada. However, the availability of uranium remains a limiting factor in the expansion of India’s nuclear energy sector.
Another raw material required for nuclear energy is thorium, which is found in large quantities in India. India has significant reserves of thorium, and is actively pursuing research into thorium-based nuclear reactors as a potential source of energy. However, the technology for thorium-based reactors is still in the development phase, and it will likely be several years before this becomes a viable source of energy.
In addition to the availability of raw materials, there are also concerns around the safety and security of nuclear energy, as well as the disposal of nuclear waste. These factors need to be carefully considered in any decision to expand the use of nuclear energy as a source of power.
In conclusion, the availability of raw materials, particularly uranium, is a critical factor in determining the feasibility of nuclear energy as a source of power for rapidly developing economies such as India. While India has significant reserves of thorium, the technology for thorium-based reactors is still in the development phase, and uranium remains the primary fuel for nuclear energy. The safety and security of nuclear energy, as well as the disposal of nuclear waste, are also important factors to consider in any decision to expand the use of nuclear energy.