Cooperation between Turkey and Denmark on thorium and nuclear technologies
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Turkey and a Denmark-based company signed an R&D agreement for thorium-fueled reactors.
A memorandum of understanding for R&D cooperation in the fields of thorium-fueled small modular reactors and molten salt reactors has been signed between the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Turkey (TENMAK) and Denmark-based Copenhagen Atomics.
Signing Ceremony and Participants
An official memorandum of understanding was signed between TENMAK and Copenhagen Atomics to increase research and development capacity in the field of innovative nuclear technologies.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar also attended the signing ceremony held at the Istanbul Çekmece Campus.
Small Modular Reactors
Minister Bayraktar emphasized that in addition to large-scale reactors, small modular reactors, which are considered the new era of nuclear, are being developed very rapidly.
It was officially stated that Turkey is carrying out important and strategic activities in this innovative field.
Importance of Thorium Resources
It was stated that the agreement signed with Copenhagen Atomics has a distinct importance in terms of highlighting thorium fuel.
It was expressed that thanks to the abundant presence of thorium in Turkey, there will be no foreign dependency regarding fuel in the future.
R&D and Project Activities
Within the framework of this reached agreement, studies will be carried out to utilize Turkey's thorium resources in high value-added nuclear technologies.
Among the priority topics is the production of thorium in a quality that can be used in new-generation nuclear reactor technologies.
Molten Salt Reactors
Denmark-based Copenhagen Atomics works on fourth-generation reactor concepts that enable the use of thorium in the nuclear fuel cycle.
The company particularly conducts comprehensive R&D studies on molten salt reactors.