- India holds nearly one million tonnes of thorium, making it a safer and more sustainable fuel option for achieving long-term energy independence.
- Anil Kakodkar stressed that transitioning to thorium-based reactors would enhance safety, reduce costs, and ensure continuity in India’s nuclear energy programme.
Former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Anil Kakodkar, alongside a current member of the Commission, strongly emphasised the strategic importance of thorium in expanding and sustaining India’s nuclear energy programme. He presented this view while delivering the Dr M. R. Srinivasan Memorial Lecture, which the Thakur College of Engineering and Technology jointly organised with the National Centre for Science Communicators. The event commemorated the 95th birth anniversary of Dr Srinivasan, a pioneering architect of India’s nuclear energy journey, who passed away on May 20, 2025.
At the outset, Kakodkar highlighted Dr Srinivasan’s lifelong commitment to energy self-reliance. He then connected that vision directly to India’s future needs. According to Kakodkar, India must prioritise thorium if it aims to achieve long-term energy independence. He explained that thorium offers a realistic and sustainable pathway because of India’s natural resource advantage. Moreover, he noted that India possesses nearly one million tonnes of thorium out of the global total of six million tonnes, which places the country in a uniquely strong position.
In contrast, Kakodkar pointed out that uranium availability remains limited. Globally, uranium reserves range between six and eight million tonnes, whereas India holds only about 0.4 million tonnes. Consequently, this scarcity forced India to seek international cooperation. Kakodkar explained that India signed the Indo–US civil nuclear agreement precisely because of this limitation. Following the agreement, India gained access to global uranium supplies, which helped maintain continuity in its nuclear programme.
However, Kakodkar stressed that imported uranium alone cannot secure India’s long-term goals. Therefore, he argued for a systematic transition to thorium-based technologies. He stated that the use of thorium in pressurised heavy water reactors would prove safer, cheaper, and more fuel-efficient. Furthermore, thorium-based systems would support faster capacity expansion while maintaining high safety standards. He asserted that thorium would ensure continuity and stability in India’s nuclear energy programme.
In addition, Kakodkar outlined several technical and strategic benefits of thorium. These advantages include a lower reprocessing burden, greater resistance to nuclear proliferation, improved accident tolerance, and enhanced overall safety. As a result, thorium emerges not merely as an alternative fuel but as a cornerstone for India’s future energy security.
Ultimately, Kakodkar concluded that thorium aligns perfectly with India’s scientific capability, resource base, and long-term developmental priorities.