“It will be possible to generate five lakh MW of power for 500 years with thorium-based reactors Calling spent fuel of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) ‘nuclear waste’ would be a misnomer as India was one among the three countries in the world that followed “closed cycle” process in nuclear power generation, said S. Kalirajan, its Additional Chief Engineer, on Friday. Delivering a talk on ‘Nuclear power and its benefits’ at a meeting organised by Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Mr. Kalirajan explained how uranium, used in KKNPP, got converted into plutonium as spent fuel, which would be used in fast breeder reactors, along with a blanket of thorium. The thorium blanket, in turn, transformed into uranium after its use and this could be used in breeder reactors as fuel. With this “closed cycle” technology, it would be possible to generate five lakh MW of power for 500 years with thorium-based reactors, he said. India had about one third of world’s thorium reserves. India, France and Russia were the only countries to adopt the “closed cycle” technology in nuclear power generation, Mr. Kalirajan said. Mr. Kalirajan said the current installed capacity from all energy sources was 2.4 lakh MW, which should provide 1,600 units per capita power per annum. But, the per capita power available was 860 units. The shortfall was caused due to low efficiency and transmission losses. By bringing down consumption levels and improving efficiency and production, the county could meet future power demands. Referring to the objective of achieving 7.5 lakh MW in 2032, Mr. Kalirajan said this would become a reality only through “energy mix,” by not depending on a single source. Power generation in the KKNPP’s second reactor was likely to begin by the year-end and tenders for excavation had been floated for the third and fourth reactors. Work on the fifth and the sixth reactors would begin in a few years, Mr. Kalirajan said. On completion, the nuclear power park would generate 6,000 MW. N. Sivasubramanian, former Chief General Manager, ISRO, said opposition to nuclear power stemmed from misunderstanding of the process involved. S. Rethinavelu, senior president of the chamber, said power generation should be augmented to make the industry competitive. N. Jegatheesan, president, said opposition to nuclear power would hamper development, especially when the demand for electricity was increasing.