DEVELOPMENT OF

INNOVATIVE NUCLEAR

REACTOR TECHNOLOGY –

WITH THE SPIN-OFF BASED

ON THORIUM

(FP0214D052 DSTIN) PERIOD : 2014 – 2018

Contents

Problem Statement – The case for Thorium in

Malaysia

Program Objectives, Expected Deliverables,

Outcomes and Roadmaps

International Link & Collaboration with Local R&D

and Challenges

Conclusions

Problem Statement – the case for Thorium in Malaysia

Proliferation Resistance: 3 times more abundance than uranium, and have all

the characteristics for

energy efficiency and security - fertile

cheaper electricity and minimum nuclear waste (less plutonium)

Public concerns and safety issues –

thorium exists in Malaysia in Rare Earth Oxide (REO) waste residue, as well as ex-tin

mining tailings

resolve the public and safety concerns on thorium by-products (Lynas/ARE issues),

built a more sustainable NPP and create safe, clean and good economic REO extraction industries

- Economic and Strategic benefits

Thorium based fuel cycle (including reactors) is currently in the development or

R&D stage globally, hence opportunity for Malaysian to join this global venture,

including through INPRO

In practise, a sustainable NPP should still make use of both uranium and

thorium, perhaps the way forward

Participate in INPRO/IAEA activities

Disposal Facility – Engineered Cell 1contaminated materials & D&D waste containing

Thorium from ARE plant

Malaysia Thorium R&D Program

Established a National Committee on Thorium in

2013, to conduct study and R&D activities aiming at

realizing the use of thorium as a strategic fuel of

the future

The R&D Program was developed and approved in

2014, for the duration 2014-2018

Total budget approved RM44 million (USD12.6mil)

Currently focussed on Thorium Fuel Technology

A. CORE TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS

1. Thorium Fuel Technology (*current focus)

Exploration and Siting

Thorium Resource and Supply

Preliminary Study on Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Using Thorium Fuel

Thorium Extraction Pilot Plant

Production of Nuclear-Grade Thorium from Local Sources for Reactor Fuel

Development of Radiation Induced Graft Polymerization for Used as Thorium Absorbent

Pilot Plant Engineering Development

Immobilization of radioactive waste from the extraction process

Thorium Fuel Engineering and Fabrication Technology

2. Accelerator Technology (next phase)

Compact Accelerator Technology and Safety for Thorium Reactor ADS Precursor

Acquisition and development of medium size accelerator

3. Reactor Technology (near future)

Utilization of Solid Thorium Fuel in Light Water Reactor (LWR)

Nuclear Physics and Engineering Modeling and Simulation for Thorium Nuclear Power Plant (NPP

Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) Technology Development (ADSR Precursor)

B. ENABLER TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS (concurrent)

Legal Framework Nuclear Safety and Licensing

Knowledge Management, Project Management and

Tools

Public Information and Public Acceptance (PIPA)

Workshop and Seminar on Thorium Technology

C. SPIN-OFF PROJECTS

Accelerator Application and Utilization

Safe, Clean and Economic REO Processing Technology

2014 [Budget: RM 626731.19]

•Acquisition of basic equipment

•Initial study on Th Resource Mapping

2015 [Budget: RM RM14,055,085]

• Determination of Th minerals from non-conventional resources

• Study on Seismic Hazard for SMR Siting

• Setting up of Th laboratory meeting IAEA 3S

• Preparation and characterization of Th adsorbents

• Pilot plant process drawing and design

• Separation of Th from REE solutions by precipitation

• A report on new database on area monitoring system

• Testing and acceptance of radiation safety simulation software

2016 [Budget: RM 22,336,870.76]

• Data analysis of borehole for Th minerals

• Data digitization and mapping

• R&D on Th extraction

• Preparation and characterization of selective adsorbents towards Th

• Completion of pilot plant site, building and infrastructure

•Testing and commissioning of pilot plant

• Extraction of REE to produce high purity REE

• Training of personnel in the use of the simulation package and the design of hot cell

2017 [Budget: RM 6,729,286.00

• Data analysis of borehole for Th minerals

• Weightage, model and data spatial analysis

• R&D on new process for recovery, separation and purification of Th and REE

• Adsorption and desorption process of Th

• New process for recovery, separation and purification of Th and REE at pilot scale

• Determination of extraction efficiency and purity for Th

• Optimization of parameters for extraction of REE, Th and rare earth ores

• Case study of radiation safety simulation and procurement of Th hot cell

2018 [Budget: RM 908,536.55]

• Determination of Th reserve from conventional resources

• Overall mapping of the potential SMR siting

• Completion of field trial of adsorption and desorption of Th

• Pilot plant routine operation

• Testing and commissioning of the hot cell for Th sample handling

• Radiation safety simulation inside and outside hot cell

Thorium Flagship Project Roadmap

Main deliverables (milestones)

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

•Report on

initial study

on Th

Resource

Mapping

•National Th

laboratory IAEA 3S

standard

•Fabrication and

production of online

monitoring system

•Production of

general polymeric

adsorbent material

for Th

•Tender document for

pilot plant

•New patented process

for efficient recovery

of Th and REE from

local mineral

•Pilot plant for fuel

grade Th

•Production of highly

selective polymeric

adsorbent material for

Th

•Nuclear grade ThO2

•Production of mobile

Th hot cell •New patented process

for separation and

purification of Th and

REE

•Production of high

efficiency and strength

adsorbent for Th from

local material

•Production of clean

REE free from Th

•Production of Th

based nuclear fuel

and testing

• Large scale

production of new

adsorbent

•Th resource map

for Malaysia

•Sales of Th free

REE

Possible Cooperation

Subprojects: Possible Cooperation: Project Leader:

Thorium Resource and Supply Foreign entities, JMG Dr. Mohd Azmi B. Ismail

Preliminary Siting Study on Small Modular

Reactor (SMR) Using Thorium UNIMAS Dr. Kamarudin Samuding

Production of Nuclear-Grade Thorium from Local

Sources for Reactor Fuel Foreign entities, IAEA, JMG Dr. Meor Yusoff Meor

Sulaiman

Development of Radiation Induced Graft

Polymerization for Used as Thorium Absorbent Foreign entities, UTM Dr. Nor Hasimah Mohamed

Pilot Plant Engineering Development Foreign entities, IAEA, LabZinc

Ipoh, UMP, JMG, MIMOS

Dr. Hasni Hasan

Characterisation, Extraction and Purification of

Rare Earth Elements, Thorium from Malaysian

Rare Earth Ores

Prof. Amran bin Abd Majid

(UKM)

Area Monitoring System for Thorium Laboratories

and Pilot Plant

MIMOS Maslina Mohd Ibrahim

Engineering Software for Radiation Safety

Simulation

Foreign entities, IAEA, MIMOS Shalina Sheik Muhamad

Thorium Reactor Design Foreign entities Dr. Muhammad Rawi Bin

Mohamed Zin

Issues and Challenges

Long Term Program: Thorium is a long term program with relatively huge funding, and the outcome may not be achievable within the stipulated time frame . The deliverables should be balanced between short to medium terms and the long terms. Spin-Off projects and deliverables are thus very important, failing which will jeopardise the subsequent project funding.

High R&D Investment: Thorium utilization as fuel in power reactors is also facing global challenge in licensing, requiring huge R&D investments, and industrial acceptance. Malaysia as a small nation and new comer need to fully justify this activities and address the “ROI” appropriately.

Capacity Building and TSO Prog: The Program/Project is also expecting to deliver the desired HRD infrastructure for Nuklear Malaysia to become a TSO for NPP. Thus, a well balanced R&D, Technical Development and Product Commercialization are to be addressed and managed. Stakeholder communication is very essential.

Conclusions

1. A Flagship R&D Program with national and international collaborations,

covering Universities, RIs, Industries and IAEA,

2. Currently approved the 1st Phase (2014-2018) of the Program,

comprising of eight (9) Sub-Projects amounting to RM44 millions. This

phase focuses mainly on the extraction of Th from mineral processing tailings

(e.g from existing REO processing, Tin mining) and its potential contribution

to a cleaner and safer REO industries as well as establishing methodology

for Th fuel production

3. The project only started in late 2014, thus, the current outputs are limited

to laboratory preparations and proof of concepts

4. Malaysia looks forward to support from INPRO/IAEA for the greater

benefits of Member States towards a more sustainable energy system