Towards sustainable, secure and safe energy: A future for thorium power

作     者：Muammer Kaya 

作者机构：Department of Mining Engineering Eskisehir Osmangazi University Turkey 

出 版 物：《Resources and Environmental Economics》 (资源与环境经济（英文）)

年 卷 期：2019年第1卷第2期

页      面：43-49页

学科分类：0830[工学-环境科学与工程（可授工学、理学、农学学位）] 08[工学] 

主　　题：Th-fuel nuclear fuels sustainable source of energy 

摘      要：Thorium (Th) is three to four times more abundant than Uranium (U) in nature and distributed evenly in most developing countries in the World. Th can be mined with relatively cheap and environment friendly mining methods from high grade alluvial deposits. Th extraction is relatively straightforward and inexpensive. Th has better radiation stability and longer fuel cycle. Th has a higher energy density and fuel economy in the reactors. One ton of mined Th produces as much energy as 200 tons of mined U, or 3.5 million tons of coal. World’s global energy needs for one year can be supplied by approximately burning 6000 tons of Th. Since Th is an abundant and sustainable source of energy for the future, developing countries cannot afford to ignore. Molten salt and accelerator driven reactors have been developed for Th-fuel. Turkey has the sixth biggest Th resources in the world and must declare Th as part of countries national power policy like China and India.