7.99 mln tonnes of total Thorium resources under DAE

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) The total Thorium Resources identified by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, a constituent unit under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), are 7.99 million tonnes, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

In a written reply, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan said that these resources are contained in the mineal monazite associated with beach sand placers along the eastern and western coasts of the country as well as in the inland places of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand.

''India is pursuing a three-stage nuclear power generation progamme aimed at long-term energy independence based on use of our abundant Thorium resources. The programme is to use Thorium for electricity generation in the long term. In order to realize this goal, we are well into the first stage based on our modest domestic Uranium resource. This will be followed by second stage comprising of fast reactors which can support a large power generation capacity before getting into the third stage.'' He said Thorium in itself could not produce electricity and it had to be first converted to Uranium-233 in a nuclear reactor. A comprehensive three-stage nuclear power programme was, therefore, being implemented sequentially.

The third-stage system (Thorium reactors) would be deployed after a sizeable second stage capacity was in operation. The nuclear power generation during 2005-06 was 17,324 Million Units (MUs) against a target of 15,560 MUs, Mr Chavan said.

On setting up of nuclear plants in Andhra Pradesh, he said that the Site Selection Committee was presently evaluating the sites offered by the coastal states in the country. a site in Srikakulam district offered by the Government of Andhra Pradesh was under evaluation.

Replying on Irradiation Technology for Food preservation, the Minister said that the Department of Atomic Energy has carried out research and development on radiation processing of food and agricultural commodities for the past 50 years. In 1994, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare approved radiation processing of onion, potato and spices under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) 1954, Rules.

Mr Chavan further said that the PFA Act Rules were subsequently amended in 1998 and 2001 to include more commodities.

A 30-tonne per day capacity unit was commissioned at Vashi, Navi Mumbai, for Hygienisation of spices and other dry ingredients, that required relatively high doses of radiation. Another 10-tonne per hour capacity plant for controlling sprouting in stored onion and potato and disinfestations for agricultural commodities that required relatively low doses was set up at Lasalgaon, Distt. Nashik. The Plant became operational in 2003, the Minister informed.

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