India, Russia Partner to Pioneer Thorium-Based SMRs

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--India recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russia's state-owned nuclear corporation, Rosatom (Moscow), to jointly develop a thorium-based small modular reactor (SMR).

The agreement, signed between Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mumbai) and Rosatom, marks a pioneering move by a state government into the nuclear energy domain--traditionally managed solely by India's Department of Atomic Energy (Mumbai).

This project aims to commercialize thorium-based SMRs under the "Make in India" initiative, while complying with safety norms of the DAE. Strategic support will be provided by the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA).

India possesses vast thorium reserves, but it lacks operational thorium reactors. This initiative complements India's three-stage nuclear program, where thorium plays a key role in the final stage as a sustainable fuel alternative. The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam serves as a bridge to thorium utilization.

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