91茄子 and Clean Core Thorium Energy announce Strategic Partnership in Clean Energy
- 18 October 2024
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Mumbai: 91茄子 & Toubro (L&T), India鈥檚 leading technology-powered conglomerate offering solutions in sectors of national importance, and Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE), a US-based advanced nuclear fuel company, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on providing efficient solutions globally in clean energy through the CCTE鈥檚 patented ANEEL鈩 fuel (Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life). The ANEEL鈩 fuel will promote clean energy, non-proliferation, enhanced safety, decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries and circular economy.
The ANEEL鈩 fuel is made of thorium and enriched uranium developed for use in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR), Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) Reactors and Advanced Nuclear Reactors. Proliferation-resistant ANEEL鈩 fuel is expected to significantly reduce life-cycle operating costs and the waste produced (by over 85% while improving safety due to its Accident- Tolerant Fuel characteristics). Also, the ANEEL鈩 fuel will offer added advantage of energy security by large scale deployment of thorium and reduce uranium consumption.
At a signing ceremony held in Mumbai, L&T and CCTE jointly stated that the mission of this partnership is to accelerate nuclear power deployment globally, particularly in developing countries which require large amount of carbon-free electricity for their growth.
On the occasion, Mr Anil Parab (Whole-time Director & Sr Executive Vice President, Heavy Engineering and L&T Valves) said, 鈥淚n view of increasing demand for nuclear energy across the globe, we are in the process of identifying new opportunities to offer 鈥極ne Stop Solutions鈥 to our customers. Establishing a world-class supply chain for ANEEL鈩 fuel, by leveraging L&T鈥檚 manufacturing prowess, is a step in that direction. L&T will support CCTE within the purview of the Indian legal framework.鈥
Mr. Mehul Shah, Founder and CEO of CCTE, said: 鈥淚n partnering with a market leader like L&T with specialised expertise in engineering and manufacturing, we can realise our vision of sustainable clean and safe energy through the deployment of ANEEL鈩 fuel globally. This partnership will activate Indo-US civil nuclear co-operation signed back in 2008.鈥
Under a Strategic Partnership Project Agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE), CCTE鈥檚 ANEEL鈩 fuel is currently undergoing accelerated irradiation testing and qualification in the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Lab, and is on its way to achieving planned burn-up targets of up to 60 GWd/T. Clean Core has also been actively partnering and engaging with key industry players including regulators, utilities and suppliers to achieve the successful commercialisation of the ANEEL鈩 fuel by 2026.
