Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section

Uranium Production Cycle


Technical Meeting on World Thorium Resources

17 – 21 October 2011,
Thiruvananthapuram, India

INFORMATION AND CALL FOR PAPERS


I. INTRODUCTION

Due to increased demand of carbon-free energy, accelerated growth of global nuclear power is foreseen in future, which has in turn made the sustainable use of fuel resources such as uranium and thorium important. Uranium though is the main-stay of the present generation of Nuclear Power Plants, with the anticipated steep growth in nuclear energy it will be necessary to introduce thorium too as a fuel. Thorium fuel cycle offers several potential advantages over a uranium fuel cycle, including greater abundance, superior physical and nuclear properties of fuel, enhanced proliferation resistance, and reduced plutonium and actinide production. Technically thorium has been well established and it behaves remarkably well in Light Water Reactors, High Temperature Reactors and Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors. Recognizing the potential contribution of thorium fuel cycle in nuclear energy, renewed R&D efforts are seen in many Member States.

Geochemically thorium is four times more abundant than uranium on the crust of earth and economical concentrations of thorium are found in a number of countries. Geologically thorium deposits are found in varies setups such as alkaline complexes, pegmatites, carbonatites and heavy mineral sands with wide geographic distribution. Worldwide thorium resources are estimated to total about 6 million tonnes. Major resources of thorium are seen in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Norway, South Africa and USA. Thorium exploration is presently ongoing in some countries such as India and USA. The present production of thorium is mainly as a by-product of processing of heavy mineral sand deposits for titanium, zirconium and tin.

The purpose of the Technical Meeting is to provide a forum for experts from Member States to exchange information on the latest developments in geology, mineralogy, exploration, resources and production of thorium. Additionally recent research in ore processing, environmental studies, safety and social licensing aspects will be discussed.

The Technical Meeting (TM) will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, India.

II. TOPICS TO BE COVERED

The following specific topics are identified as being of particular interest, and shall be considered in the papers to be presented:

III. ORGANIZATION

Chairman:
Mr R.N. Patra,
Chairman & Managing Director
Indian Rare Earths Ltd., Plot No.1207, ECIL Building,
Veer Savarkar Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400 028
India
Phone: +91 22 24225778
Fax: +91 22 24301967
Email: cmd@irel.gov.in / rnpatra@irel.gov.in

Local Co-ordinator:
Mr D. Singh,
Director (Marketing),
Indian Rare Earths Ltd., Plot No.1207, ECIL Building,
Veer Savarkar Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400 028
India
Phone: +91 22 24220843 or +91 22 24301755
Fax: +91 22 24301967
Email: marketing1-ho@irel.gov.in

Scientific Secretary:
Mr Harikrishnan Tulsidas
International Atomic Energy Agency
Wagramer Strasse 5
PO Box 100
1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 2600 22758
Fax: +43 1 26007 22758
Email: T.Harikrishnan@iaea.org

Secretary:
Ms Emalia Awadissian,
International Atomic Energy Agency
Wagramer Strasse 5
PO Box 100
1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 2600 22765
Fax: +43 1 2600 29671
Email: E.Awadissian@iaea.org

IV. PARTICIPATION

Each person wishing to participate in the meeting is requested to complete the Participation Form A (attached), with an indication of the intention to present a paper must be sent to the IAEA through the competent official authority by 29 July 2011.

The designated participants should provide an abstract of approximately 250 words for their paper as well as the completed Form for Submission of a Paper (Form B attached) to the Scientific Secretary latest by 29 July 2011. Participants will be asked to prepare a paper on the topic of World Thorium Resources and to make a presentation of their paper. The presentations will have a duration of approximately 20 minutes and it is preferred that they are prepared in MS PowerPoint format. Contributed papers and presentations should be submitted in English with an electronic version provided to the scientific secretary prior to the meeting.

V. VENUE

The meeting will be held in Hotel Vivanta Kovalam by Taj, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India:

Hotel Vivanta by Taj - Kovalam,
G. V. Raja Vattappara Road
Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 527
Kerala, India
Telephone: +91 471 661 3000
Facsimile: +91 471 248 7744
Web: http://www.vivantabytaj.com/kovalam-kerala/overview.html

Special rates applicable for this conference:

Single occupancy : INR 7 000 + 12.5% Tax
Double occupancy : INR 8 000 + 12.5% Tax

Participants can contact the Local Co-ordinator (contact details given above) for assistance in reserving their accommodation.

One day of the meeting will be set aside for a technical visit to a heavy mineral deposit of thorium in Chavara / Manavalakurichi, South Western Coast of India.

VI. VISA ARRANGEMENTS

Designated participants who require a visa to enter India should submit the necessary application form in due time to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of India. The following information should be given along with the participation form:

  1. Name of Participant
  2. Nationality
  3. Date of Birth
  4. Place of Birth
  5. Passport Number
  6. Date & Place of Issue
  7. Date of Expiry
  8. Address

VII. EXPENDITURES

In accordance with the established rules, Governments, national authorities, private companies or individual sources are expected to bear the travel and other costs of designated participants in the meeting. Limited funds are, however, available to help cover the cost of participants from Member States eligible to receive technical assistance under the IAEA's technical cooperation programme. Such assistance can be offered, upon specific request, to one participant per country provided that, in the IAEA's view, this participant will make an important contribution to the meeting. The application for financial support should be made at the time of the designation of the participant.

The Secretariat wishes to state that compensation is not payable by the IAEA for any damage to or loss of the experts' personal property. However, for the period of their engagement with the IAEA, including travel between their residence and the duty station, the designated experts will be covered under the IAEA's insurance policy for permanent total disablement or death resulting from service-incurred accidents or illness up to a maximum of €100 000, for permanent partial disablement resulting from service-incurred accidents or illness up to a maximum of €100 000 and for medical expenses up to a maximum of €20 000 plus €10 000 for supplementary travel and accommodation expenses in case of illness or injury resulting from service-incurred accidents or illness, in accordance with the terms of the IAEA's relevant insurance policy. This insurance coverage only covers accidents and illnesses insofar as they clearly result from attendance at an IAEA meeting. The IAEA recommends that the expert also make arrangements for private insurance coverage on an individual basis.

VIII. WORKING LANGUAGE

The working language of the meeting will be English. All communications, abstracts, and papers must be sent in English.