Exploiting vast deposits of ‘Thorium’ found on coastline
By Sandun A. Jayasekera
Sri Lanka is to construct atomic reactors to generate power exploiting vast deposits of ‘Thorium’ found on our coastline from Beruwala to Negombo as a solution to the power crisis facing the country, Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitharana said.
Speaking to Daily Mirror on his return from Vienna after participating in the annual sessions of the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA), Prof, Vitharana said the Sri Lanka delegation had a fruitful discussion with the Indian delegation on the sideline of the IAEA main sessions.
“The Indians have developed a technology to enrich Thorium as a source of energy to produce electricity.
“They are on the verge of commissioning a reactor for power generation in India using Thorium as main resource. The Sri Lankan delegation was able to convince the Indian scientists the possibility of constructing a Thorium reactor in Sri Lanka as we have huge Thorium deposits that run from Beruwala to Negombo,” Prof Vitharana said.
A team of Indian atomic research experts would visit Sri Lanka shortly for a feasibility study and work out a programme. The Indian team was expected to submit a report to the Sri Lanka government and the IAEA. The Sri Lankan government would discuss the subject with the IAEA and the Indian government, he said.
Chairman, Atomic Energy Authority, Dr. W. Abeywickrama who was also a member of the team
headed by Prof. Vitharana to Vienna said India had directed its attention to Thorium enrichment for power generation as enrichment of Uranium was becoming costly. “The feasibility study would show us how cheap we could exploit Thorium for power generation,” Dr. Abeywickrama said.
Sri Lanka has already exploited almost all its natural resources for power generation. The country would confront a huge power crisis in the future if Sri Lanka does not turn to alternative resources to generate power.
Out of 2411 MW of power generated in the country now 1207 MW is Hydro, 548 MW is Thermal and 3 MW is Wind supplied by the CEB. The private sector contribution is 653 MW which 86 is Hydro and 567 Thermal.
The combined capacity of Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project, Norochcholai Coal Power Plant, Combined Cycle Power Plant and Liquid Natural Gas Terminal at Kerawalapitiya would add another 2000 MW in the next 10 years to the national grid.
“We have to turn to cheap alternative resources for power generation as a sustainable solution to the power crisis that would come to a peak in the next few years, Prof. Vitharana said.
By Sandun A. Jayasekera
Sri Lanka is to construct atomic reactors to generate power exploiting vast deposits of ‘Thorium’ found on our coastline from Beruwala to Negombo as a solution to the power crisis facing the country, Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitharana said.
Speaking to Daily Mirror on his return from Vienna after participating in the annual sessions of the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA), Prof, Vitharana said the Sri Lanka delegation had a fruitful discussion with the Indian delegation on the sideline of the IAEA main sessions.
“The Indians have developed a technology to enrich Thorium as a source of energy to produce electricity.
“They are on the verge of commissioning a reactor for power generation in India using Thorium as main resource. The Sri Lankan delegation was able to convince the Indian scientists the possibility of constructing a Thorium reactor in Sri Lanka as we have huge Thorium deposits that run from Beruwala to Negombo,” Prof Vitharana said.
A team of Indian atomic research experts would visit Sri Lanka shortly for a feasibility study and work out a programme. The Indian team was expected to submit a report to the Sri Lanka government and the IAEA. The Sri Lankan government would discuss the subject with the IAEA and the Indian government, he said.
Chairman, Atomic Energy Authority, Dr. W. Abeywickrama who was also a member of the team
headed by Prof. Vitharana to Vienna said India had directed its attention to Thorium enrichment for power generation as enrichment of Uranium was becoming costly. “The feasibility study would show us how cheap we could exploit Thorium for power generation,” Dr. Abeywickrama said.
Sri Lanka has already exploited almost all its natural resources for power generation. The country would confront a huge power crisis in the future if Sri Lanka does not turn to alternative resources to generate power.
Out of 2411 MW of power generated in the country now 1207 MW is Hydro, 548 MW is Thermal and 3 MW is Wind supplied by the CEB. The private sector contribution is 653 MW which 86 is Hydro and 567 Thermal.
The combined capacity of Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project, Norochcholai Coal Power Plant, Combined Cycle Power Plant and Liquid Natural Gas Terminal at Kerawalapitiya would add another 2000 MW in the next 10 years to the national grid.
“We have to turn to cheap alternative resources for power generation as a sustainable solution to the power crisis that would come to a peak in the next few years, Prof. Vitharana said.
