Recently a new Thorium based research reactor went critical or as a put to layman, became fully operational at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai. This reactor hardly produces any heat or energy but yet it is a point of high achievement for nuclear scientists in India and all over the world. For first time an alternative to Uranium, which is rare and not easily available in India, is being tested. Thorium, in its raw form is available in abundance on the beaches of Kerala and India is third largest known reserve of thorium. So there is a reason to rejoice. If everything works according to scientific blueprint, India will have indigenous solution to its energy needs for next 250 years.

The facility currently is at research level, mainly for understanding nuclear chain reaction of thorium and testing the efficiency of thorium in producing energy. The data will be used to make a more powerful reactor in next five years; a huge network of such reactors may help India meet its electricity needs. The reactor is completely assembled indigenously by Indian scientists who often had to work against odds like international sanctions. No wonder Atomic department’s Chief Dr. Anil Kakodkar too was overjoyed.

Moreover, Indian scientific community can work in these facilities without radioactive worries. For the first time NDTV’s crew and camera could shoot inside the reactor core and vessel itself! Thorium looks all set to be the next nuclear fuel for the country. But how long will it take to generate energy on a larger scale? The projection is anything between 100 to 150 years! It may appear far and beyond current energy needs but it appears reasonable to work out options now, since mankind with its current consumption rate is set to exhaust hydrocarbons fuel in next 75-100 years.
This is a true ‘long term endeavor’ of science and technology; the present single reactor cannot even light a bulb, but who knows 100 years from now, it’ll be the only nuclear fuel satiating India’s energy needs and making India fully self sufficient in the field of energy.

source: NDTV