Turkey transforms its thorium potential into technology in nuclear energy

Turkey is resolutely continuing its efforts to utilize rich thorium reserves located in Eskişehir, Malatya, and other provinces in next-generation nuclear technologies, to produce thorium compounds with domestic means, and to establish a high value-added supply capacity in this field.

Turkey's Thorium Fields

While Turkey has significant thorium resources in the provinces of Eskişehir and Malatya, detailed studies regarding deposits identified in Kayseri, Sivas, Diyarbakır, and Burdur fields are ongoing.

According to data from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, giant thorium reserves amounting to millions of tons are located in the Eskişehir-Sivrihisar, Malatya-Kuluncak, and Beylikova regions.

Thorium's Nuclear Potential

Not found free in nature and existing in the structure of approximately 50 minerals, thorium stands out as a radioactive element.

Thorium, which can be converted into uranium through appropriate nuclear processes, holds the potential to be an alternative raw material in the nuclear fuel cycle.

Technological Processes and R&D

Since thorium does not currently possess direct nuclear fuel properties, its use in the fuel cycle requires additional nuclear processes and processing technologies.

International studies are concentrating on the use of thorium in advanced reactor designs such as molten salt reactors.

Global Developments and Collaborations

While China stands out in thorium-fueled molten salt reactor technology, research on similar topics is also being conducted in India, the USA, and Europe.

Thanks to the memorandum of understanding signed between TENMAK and Denmark-based Copenhagen Atomics, it is aimed to use thorium in next-generation reactors.