India's thorium-based nuclear dream inches closer

[the_physicist]

09 November 2012 by Hal HodsonSINCE India began its nuclear programme in the 1950s, it has aimed to tap the ample thorium reserves that lie within its borders. Construction is finally set to begin on a reactor that will produce electricity from India's most convenient fuel for the first time. But with a checkered past on the subject, the country's

Comments

[ragnor144]

This is quite interesting. I didn't know much about thorium so I read up a bit on it. This seems like something that Western countries would like to promote for energy security.

[the_physicist]

My thoughts exactly re: energy security. Thorium breeder cycles have many advantages... yet they were never developed.

[fenris_lorsrai]

This seems extremely... negative. Does nuclear power have risks? yes, of course. all energy sources have a different mix of risks and advantages. Nuclear can just have a very visible, long lasting failure. Conventional oil and gas have a long lasting but INVISIBLE problem when they operate under normal circumstances. (CO2, SO2, and particulate matter that causes respiratory distress

[the_physicist]

yes, i felt the article was also very negative, it wasn't just you. especially with the phrasing "the best thing India has to show for its thorium efforts".

well, what's the best thing anyone else has to offer for its efforts in fusion research? :/ not to mention since they first started researching this the world has changed its opinion on nuclear energy - so much so that the West hardly even has any nuclear physicists now. India has had to carry the burden alone of developing civil nuclear power from the ground up to do it with thorium rather than the traditional sources.