Opinion
China leading world in new type of energy production!
The above captioned letter appearing in your issue of 22nd Feb states “China is finally leading the world out of wilderness and into the light and warmth that Thorium energy provides. They are leading the way in developing this new technology to create almost unlimited cheap, clean power from Thorium, that China needs so much”. Mentioning of that valuable mineral Thorium, it is reported Sri Lanka is blessed with an enormous deposit of Thorium. A comprehensive report on the deposits of minerals including Thorium is available with the International Atomic Energy Agency, published in 1977 and may have now been updated.
I have received several letters on this subject from readers, perhaps due to my interest on the subject of energy, requesting me to follow up with authorities which I have done with no tangible results. Here are some excerpts from a letter dated 18th Nov.2018, by Priyantha Hettige – ” Mineral Thorium is plentiful in the world. Sri Lanka’s deposit of ilmenite mixed with monazite is worth tens of thousand billion dollars. All Sri Lankans will be fabulously rich if you would only take the trouble to mine, purify and use Thorium in a liquid Fluoride Thorium salt reactor [LFTR]. India has such a reactor running as a test rig and China with all its environmental problems has around 300 researchers investigating the best process for using Thorium in a reactor. It is all a question of agreeing, the chemical process needed and setting on a final design—-Because Sri Lanka has this deposit and because one day the alarm bells will ring, red lights will flash and voices will be raised in raucous in unison concerning the environment. It will pay handsomely to spend time NOW, firstly investigating the separation of Thorium and other minerals from the sands and also learning about the chemical and nuclear processes involved, ready for that big day when, situation arises, when Sri Lanka needs lots of cheap, but clean energy. Calculations are such that the cost of power by Thorium will be less than that of Coal. So, what are we waiting for?”
Now that China has taken a march over other countries to introduce clean power from Thorium, Sri Lanka should be doubly careful as China may influence our gullible politicians to allow them to undertake exploration of this invaluable mineral, as they have already gained a foot-hold in Sri Lanka by funding knowingly unproductive projects which brought about the financial predicament we are in today and where we have to pay back with interest the loans taken. It is more important to keep a sharp eye on the activities by the Chinese as the Hambantota area, inclusive of Tangalle, is said to be rich in these mineral deposits and comes within the development project by China under the proposed Industrial zone where a 400 Mw power plant is to be constructed. China may come forward to explore and export this mineral rather than set up a nuclear plant to supply energy.
It is hoped the government would take some positive steps in setting up a nuclear plant to end the menace of power shedding forever and may also fulfill the funny dream of Minister for Power, Gamini Lokuge, to supply electricity to India and far away Singapore. I believe it is the Ministry for Power which should instruct the Ceylon Electricity Board [CEB] to have a nuclear plant included in the Long Term Least Cost Generation plan and work towards its implementation.
G. A. D. Sirimal
BORALESGAMUWA