Mahagenco & Russian co ink deal to develop thorium-fuelled reactor

Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation Ltd (Mahagenco) on Friday signed a cooperation agreement with Russia's state-owned Rosatom for the development of a small modular reactor with thorium fuel. The deal was signed in the presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at Sahyadri Guest House."The main objectives of this agreement are the joint development of a thorium reactor in Maharashtra, its commercialisation according to the safety standards of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), and the establishment of an assembly line for the thorium reactor under the ‘Make in Maharashtra' initiative," a state govt official said.The Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) will provide strategic support for the joint development of the small modular reactor. The work will be carried out according to the guidelines of the Indian govt and AERB. A joint working group will operate through mutual coordination and study for this project, the govt official added. During the implementation of this agreement, adherence to all legal provisions and safety guidelines set by the Centre regarding the use and development of nuclear energy will be mandatory, said a statement issued by govt. Present at the event were principal secretary to the chief minister Ashwini Bhide, secretary Shrikar Pardeshi, MITRA CEO Praveen Pardeshi among others and Russian representatives.Many of the benefits of small modular reactors are inherently linked to the nature of their design — small and modular. Given their smaller footprint, small modular reactors can be sited on locations not suitable for larger power plants. Prefabricated units of small modular reactors can be manufactured and then shipped and installed on site, making them more affordable to build, sources in the energy department said.