The country that wants to turn its beaches into nuclear fuel – RNES

For decades, India has been considering using its thorium-rich sands for a carbon-free energy future. Is the country on the verge of achieving its goals?

The tropical beaches of India are probably evocative of sun-drenched palms, burning curry fish and backpackers with dreadlocks.

Its sands are rich in thorium a chemical element considered a cleaner and safer alternative than conventional nuclear fuels.

The country was eager to exploit its potential of 300,000 to 850,000 tons of thorium, probably the largest reserves in the world, although progress has been significant.

But this effort draws attention again, as renewed interest for ] technology .

In 2017, Dutch scientists launched the first experimental thorium reactor for decades, new companies promote technology in the West And last year, China promised to spend 3.3 billion US dollars to develop reactors that can operate in thorium.