A cooperation between India’s engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and US-based Clean Core Thorium Energy has the potential to reduce the cost of electricity generated by India’s nuclear plants by 20-30 per cent. CCTE claims its proprietary nuclear fuel technology named Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life (ANEEL) has emerged as a promising nuclear fuel solution for powering India’s Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). 

“Today, in the natural uranium reactors in India the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) or the cost of electricity is about Rs 6/kWh. We are expecting that with ANEEL fuel, the cost would drop by 20-30 per cent,” said Mehul Shah, founder and chief executive officer, Clean Core Thorium Energy, in an interaction with ET Infra and ET EnergyWorld. 

Shah highlighted that the Indian authorities have expressed interest for the company to demonstrate the fuel technology in a reactor and that CCTE has applied for the relevant licence from US authorities to be in compliance with US civil nuclear technology export control norms. 

In October, the US-based advanced nuclear fuel company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with L&T wherein the latter will help in establishing the supply chain for ANEEL fuel, by leveraging its manufacturing prowess. L&T has had several decades of experience of being engaged in India’s nuclear sector as an engineering and construction player. 

Currently in the advanced stages of testing at Idaho National Laboratory, ANEEL fuel is made of thorium and a small amount of enriched uranium, suitable for use in PHWRs, predominantly used by India. 

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, thorium is a more abundant and efficient substitute for uranium, the dominant nuclear fuel. 

“It (Thorium) actually delivers the most advanced benefits like proliferation resistance, reduction of waste by over 85 per cent and in turn giving you a cost benefit, improved safety,” said Shah.