Company has already signed agreements with partners in Asian nation
US-based Clean Core Thorium Energy has received specific export authorisation for its advanced thorium-enriched uranium fuel technology, paving the way for deployment in India’s fleet of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs).
The US company said in a statement that a “10 CFR Part 810” authorisation was issued by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The permit, known as a “specific licence”, allows a US entity to transfer unclassified nuclear technology, technical assistance, or data to foreign atomic energy projects or organisations.
The move means Clean Core Thorium can provide fuel-related services to end users in India including the Department of Atomic Energy, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
Clean Core Thorium said its Aneel (advanced nuclear energy for enriched life) fuel offers higher burnup, reduced waste volumes, lower costs, improved safety, and reduced proliferation risks compared to conventional natural uranium fuel.
According to the company, testing at Idaho National Laboratory’s advanced test reactor last month showed Aneel fuel rodlets exceeding 45 GWd/tU burnup, six to seven times higher than the average for standard natural uranium PHWR fuel.
Texas A&M fabricated the Aneel fuel pellets for accelerated irradiation testing and qualification at INL in 2022. Full commercialisation was at the time expected by late 2024.
Gigawatts days per tonne of uranium (GWd/tU) is a measure for fuel burnup, or the amount of energy extracted from a given weight of fuel. Conventional fuels have burnup levels limited to 40 GWd/tU.
Clean Core Thorium has already signed collaboration agreements with Indian public and private sector partners, including Larsen & Toubro and the National Thermal Power Corporation, and said it expects to move towards technical cooperation and commercial contracts in the coming months.
India has 21 commercial nuclear power plants in operation, 19 of which use its indigenous PHWR technology.
The country has some of the world’s largest thorium reserves but limited uranium, making thorium a strategic resource for its long-term energy security.
