1China successfully achieved the first-ever Thorium to Uranium fuel conversion in a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR)
China’sTMSRis currently the only operational molten-salt reactor in the world
The achievement of thorium-uranium conversion marks a milestone in TMSR development
About Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR)
It isfourth-generationadvanced nuclear energy system that useshigh-temperature molten saltas acoolant
Key Features: Cool without water,runatatmospheric pressure, deliver ahigh-temperature output, etc
Key Advantages:
oPassive Safety Features: If an MSR is too hot, a salt plug melts, stopping the reaction
oSmall High-Level Nuclear Waste Footprint: Thorium generates fewer long-lived minor actinides (radioactive metallic elements) than plutonium fuels.
oOther: Extract more energy from fuel, etc
Thorium Fuel
Thorium has to be converted toUranium-233in a reactor before it can be used as fuel.
oThorium-232 is the only naturally occurring isotope of thorium.
It is three times more abundant in nature than uranium
oDespite its widespread availability, the metal’s utilisation is restricted by its high extraction cost.
Thethird stage of India’s nuclear power programenvisages large scale power production from thorium
oAdvanced Heavy Water Reactor, currently under development withBhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), would serve as a technology demonstrator for thorium fuel cycle.
oAlso, India is developing anIndian Molten Salt Breeder Reactor (IMSBR)
Thorium reserves in India
India has the world’s largest reserves of thorium
Kerala and Odisha have rich reserves ofmonazite, which contains about 8 – 10% thorium.
It is also found in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
