|
ANEEL Advanced Nuclear Fuel
NTPC and Clean Core Thorium Energy are exploring deployment of thorium-based ANEEL fuel in India’s Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors. The initiative focuses on enhancing nuclear energy efficiency and reducing waste.
ANEEL Fuel & Thorium-Based Nuclear Energy:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Thorium-based advanced nuclear fuel for use in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors |
| Developer | Developed by Clean Core Thorium Energy in collaboration with NTPC |
| Fuel Composition | Thorium blended with small amounts of enriched uranium (HALEU) |
| Reactor Compatibility | Can be deployed directly in India’s existing PHWRs |
| Cost Impact | Electricity cost expected to drop by 20–30% from current level of about Rs. 6 per kWh |
| Waste Reduction | Provides for over 85% reduction in nuclear waste and lowers long-lived radioactive waste |
| Energy Security | Uses domestically available thorium to reduce dependence on imported nuclear fuel |
| Safety Feature | Improves reactor safety and proliferation resistance |
| Thorium Nature | Naturally occurring weakly radioactive metal with atomic number 90 |
| Nuclear Characteristic | Fertile element convertible into fissile Uranium-233 in reactors |
| Indian Reserves | Monazite sands in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat; inland deposits in Jharkhand and West Bengal |
| SHANTI Act, 2025 | Permits private Indian companies and joint ventures to build, own, operate and decommission nuclear power plants |
| Legal Reform | Repeals Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 |