Kaya and Kursunoglu opined in 2014 that energy is the major concern for society. Developing country economies and populations will grow and consume more energy than before. Interest in nuclear power is rising, [after managing the impact of the tsunami damage and meltdown in Japan in 2011 (more)], and the world looks for non-[carbon energy source that is reliable, relatively cheap], and will not contribute to global warming. However, [small uninformed groups who are uniformed about uranium mining (more)] still have concerns of uranium mining and of nuclear proliferation, radioactive waste and safety [see (more)]. It is necessary to overcome these concerns if nuclear energy is expanded to developing countries.
Thorium (Th) utilization as nuclear fuel will be an alternative key of these difficulties because Th produces less plutonium (Pu) and less radioactive waste with enhanced safety. Research into the use of Th as a nuclear fuel has been taking place over forty years, through with much less intensity than that for uranium (U) or U-Pu fuel [becasue thorium was not useful for making nuclear bombs]. Nuclear industry is currently using only 0.7% of the available energy from mined uranium ores.
With huge resources of thorium [albeit substantial uranium resources], Turkey has made utilization of Th for large-scale energy production as a major goal in its nuclear power program,[if technically feasible]. Thorium fuel is plentiful and inexpensive. Energy is major concern for developing Turkish society. Turkey, today exports more than 70% of its energy as fossil fuels. In the last 50 years, Turkish leaders are skeptical, anxious and indecisive about having nuclear energy for electricity production. In the last 10 years, thorium is brought to the Turkish government’s attention and national discussion as a new, safe, clean, affordable, CO2-free, alternative, strategic and domestic nuclear energy fuel. Turkey recently contracted for four VVER-1200 type Russian Nuclear Power Reactors using U as a fuel in Akkuyu (Rosatom) and another four units will be established in Sinop in the next decade by Japan (Mitsubishi-Westinghouse).
Turkish nuclear program must envisage use of domestic Th as a fertile material. This paper briefly reviews the developments of Th-fuel cycle for nuclear energy from global and Turkish perspectives. Previous Th reserve development and recovery studies from Turkish bastnasite ore, ore similar to that produced at the Mountain Pass in California (more) are summarized in this paper.
[See the history of thorium development as a resource and as a fuel to produce nuclear energy for the production of electricity to date (here)]
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
