Ankara, Sept 07(SANA) The Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mining Research Institute (TENMAK) and Danish company Copenhagen Atomics signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday allowing studies on the use of thorium, one of the raw materials used in nuclear energy, in innovative technologies.
The Anadolu Agency quoted the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources as saying in a statement that the agreement includes studies to examine the use of thorium in next-generation nuclear energy technologies.
The ministry said the memorandum would facilitate the participation of relevant stakeholders from the industry and technology sectors, as well as local researchers, in efforts to use Turkey’s thorium resources in high-value-added nuclear technologies.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said following the signing that small modular reactors have been developing rapidly in recent years alongside large-scale reactors, describing the period as the “new era of nuclear energy.”
Copenhagen Atomics is cooperating with TENMAK to assess and develop fourth-generation molten salt modular reactor technology known as the “battolyser,” which enables the use of thorium as nuclear fuel.
The cooperation will rely on Turkey’s infrastructure, human resources and industrial capabilities to support research and development activities related to the technology.
T.S /Ruaa
