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.