India is looking abroad to secure its uranium supply by acquiring mines outside the country. With nuclear energy emerging as viable option which could help meets the growing needs of energy for the world it was important for India to be prepared.
According to the Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Prithviraj Chavan, India would be floating a company on the lines of ONGC Videsh to acquire a source of fuel for its nuclear reactors. The country from which the fuel would be sourced was not named.
He was speaking at the silver jubilee celebrations of Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) organised by Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. He said that India would be buying reactors and fuel from outside, as it would take time to attain the third phase of nuclear programme envisioned by Homi Bhabha.
Mr Chavan also said that India has vast reserves of thorium and once it reached the third stage of thorium utilization it will be the key to the country’s energy security. A 1,000 MW fast breeder reactor which will use metallic fuel is also currently onthe cards. The metallic fuel should be developed by 2022.