What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1 : The Power of New Nuclear

Context: On nuclear energy, it can’t be business-as-usual.

 

Introduction: The government has realised the inevitable role of nuclear energy in the realisation of Viksit Bharat. Setting up 100 GWe of nuclear capacity by 2047 may seem like a tall order, especially with little clarity on how it will be accomplished. Yet, it is a minimum mission statement for the long road to Viksit Bharat.

 

Overview of India’s Nuclear Energy Ambitions

• Vision: Achieve 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047 as part of the Viksit Bharat initiative.
• Current Status
  1. India’s nuclear program is transitioning from uranium-based reactors to advanced fuel cycles involving thorium and recycled uranium.
  2. Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) and Pressurised Heavy-Water Reactors (PHWRs) form the backbone of current infrastructure.

 

Key Challenges

• Uranium Supply Constraints
  1. Demand: 100 GWe capacity would require 18,000 tons of uranium annually, equivalent to 1/3 of global production today.
  2. Supply Risks
     • Limited access to global uranium markets due to geopolitical and production constraints.
     • Domestic uranium reserves are insufficient to meet projected demand.
• Capacity Expansion Hurdles
  1. By 2033, uranium demand at 25 GWe would consume 8–10% of global production, risking supply bottlenecks.
  2. Delays in Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) deployment threaten to stall capacity growth.

 

Strategic Solutions

• Fuel Recycling and Thorium Utilization
  1. Closed Fuel Cycle
     • Recycling spent uranium and integrating thorium reduces uranium demand by 10–100x.
     • MOX fuel (mixed oxide) from recycled plutonium is already operational in PFBR.
  2. Advantages of Thorium
     • Abundant domestic reserves in India ensure energy security.
     • Proliferation-resistant fuel cycle minimizes security risks.
• HALEU-Thorium Fuel in PHWRs
  1. Immediate Fix: Use High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) with thorium in existing PHWRs to reduce uranium consumption and generate spent fuel for Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs).
  2. Design Compatibility: HALEU-thorium fuel bundles fit existing PHWRs without major redesigns.
• Accelerating Advanced Reactor Technologies
  1. Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs): Use spent HALEU-thorium fuel for sustainable power. It enables third-stage nuclear program with thorium-uranium cycles.
  2. Spallation Neutron Sources: Integrate with MSRs to enhance breeding efficiency, reducing reliance on FBRs.

 

Reactor Deployment Priorities

• Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs)
  1. PFBR Progress: Prototype reactor operational but needs large-scale deployment to breed fuel.
  2. Challenge: Delays in FBR rollout risk derailing mid-term capacity goals.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
  1. Global Trends: SMRs are popular but untested at scale.
  2. India’s Edge: Leverage 220 MWe PHWR experience over foreign SMR designs. Retiring coal plant sites could host SMRs with no exclusion zone requirements.
  3. Missed Opportunity: AHWR-300-LEU (thorium-based, proliferation-resistant) was developed but shelved.
• Bharat Small Reactors (BSR): Proposed BSR initiative could supplement PHWRs but must prioritize domestic manufacturing and safety.

 

Way Forward: Recommendations

• Role of Government Labs
  1. BARC and IGCAR: Lead R&D for fuel cycles, MSRs, and spallation integration.
  2. Accountability: Ensure timely delivery of advanced reactor technologies.
• Private Sector Engagement
  1. Secondary Role: Private players should support scaling production but not drive R&D.
  2. Risks: Over-reliance on foreign vendors or private entities could compromise strategic goals.
• Avoiding Foreign Dependency: Reject external pressures and prioritize indigenous tech (e.g. HALEU-thorium cycles) over foreign reactor designs.

 

Conclusion: Most of what is stated above would necessarily mean delivery by our laboratories like Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, IGCAR, etc. That needs to be ensured. The private sector, while it needs to be mobilised to scale up the programme has, at best, a secondary role. The reverse would cause irreversible damage.

 

Editorial 2 : Securing the New Oil

Context: The strategic race India can’t lose.

 

Geopolitical Context: Critical Minerals as the New Oil

• Shift from Oil to Minerals
  1. 20th Century: US foreign policy was driven by oil security (e.g. Gulf War).
  2. 21st Century: Critical minerals (copper, lithium, cobalt, rare earths) are central to future technologies (EVs, renewables, semiconductors) and geopolitical influence.
• Russia-Ukraine War
  1. Zelenskyy’s Leverage: Potential US access to Ukraine’s critical minerals (e.g. lithium, graphite, rare earths) could shape peace terms.
  2. Strategic Vulnerability: Europe’s energy dependence on Russia mirrors US/global dependence on China for minerals.

 

US-China Rivalry and Critical Minerals

• US Vulnerabilities
  1. Import Dependence: Relies heavily on imports, especially from China, which controls 75% of rare earth deposits.
  2. Technological Competition: China’s dominance in EVs, AI (DeepSeek), and advanced military tech challenges US leadership.
• US Strategies to Reduce Dependency
  1. Resource Acquisition
     • Trump’s interest in Greenland/Canada reflects their mineral potential.
     • Leveraging Ukraine’s resources (e.g. 1/3 of Europe’s lithium reserves) through wartime influence.
  2. Supply Chain Security: Aim for zero dependence on China and prioritize alliances with mineral-rich, US-friendly nations.

 

Ukraine’s Role in the Mineral Race

• Resource Wealth
  1. Lithium: 1/3 of Europe’s reserves.
  2. Graphite: Top 5 global reserves.
  3. Rare Earths: 17 significant deposits.
• Export Restrictions: Recent bans/controls amplify global competition.
• Geopolitical Leverage: US gains influence through wartime support, positioning Ukraine as a mineral alternative to China.

 

Lessons for India

• Current Challenges
  1. Import Dependence
     • Critical mineral imports exceed oil imports.
     • Reliant on foreign supplies for batteries, solar/wind components.
  2. Domestic Gaps
     • Under-explored Reserves: Rich geology but insufficient exploration.
     • Policy Barriers: Restrictive regulations hinder private-sector mining.
• Strategic Imperatives
  1. Domestic Production
     • Liberalize Exploration: Allow private players to monetize discoveries (global best practice).
     • Boost R&D: Invest in mining tech and recycling to reduce import reliance.
  2. Global Partnerships
     • Secure overseas assets and supply agreements (e.g. Australia, Africa).
     • Avoid over-reliance on China-dominated supply chains.
• Make in India Goals
  1. EVs, renewables, and tech manufacturing require mineral security.
  2. Vulnerability-Free Future: Domestic mineral autonomy is key to strategic and economic resilience.

 

Recommendations for India

• Policy Reforms
  1. Fully liberalize mineral exploration and incentivize private investment.
  2. Streamline approvals for mining projects.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborate on tech development for mineral extraction and recycling.
• International Diplomacy: Strengthen ties with mineral-rich nations (e.g. Africa, Latin America).
• Strategic Stockpiling: Build reserves of critical minerals to buffer supply shocks.

 

Conclusion

India has a very rich geology but there is insufficient exploration. It is time to completely liberalise exploration and let those who make discoveries monetise their find. That is the global practice. That is the path to a vulnerability-free future.