Nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar wants India to introduce thorium-based fuel earlier in its PHWR fleet. Here is why the proposal matters for energy security and uranium dependence.
India’s long-standing thorium strategy has received a fresh push from one of the country’s most prominent nuclear scientists. Anil Kakodkar has argued that India should begin introducing thorium-based fuel into its existing Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor fleet earlier rather than waiting for the full traditional three-stage nuclear programme to unfold.
The proposal matters because India has large thorium resources but relies heavily on uranium-based fuel for current reactor operations. Kakodkar’s argument is that PHWRs are a proven Indian strength and could become a practical bridge toward earlier thorium utilisation.
India’s three-stage nuclear programme was designed to move from natural-uranium PHWRs, to fast breeder reactors, and eventually to thorium-based systems using uranium-233. The challenge is that the breeder stage is technically complex and takes time. If that transition becomes a bottleneck, thorium use could be delayed even while electricity demand continues to rise rapidly.
Kakodkar has suggested that a blend involving high-assay low-enriched uranium and thorium could allow PHWRs to begin using thorium sooner. The idea would not replace the broader three-stage plan; it would run alongside it and potentially reduce pressure on uranium supply.
The strategic appeal is clear. India wants to expand nuclear power while improving energy security, lowering dependence on imported fuel and building domestic technology capability. Thorium is attractive because India has abundant reserves, but turning that resource into commercially useful reactor fuel requires careful engineering and fuel-cycle development.
The debate will now focus on feasibility, regulation, economics and deployment speed. Thorium has often been described as a future advantage for India. Kakodkar’s latest pitch is essentially an argument that the future should begin earlier.
Why this matters
This development matters because it changes the choices available to users, businesses or policymakers in a fast-moving area. The key next step is to watch execution, adoption and any official follow-up.
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Source: The Indian Express
