Thorium holds key to Japan's industrial future

Takashi Kamei writing in the September 2, 2010 Asahi Shimbun argues that thorium may provide many benefits for a low -arbon Japan. He writes:

"Japan wants to shift to a low-carbon society, but the challenge will be how it goes about it. The key to achieving this difficult goal is industrial revitalization. This will require technological innovation and the ability to secure precious resources. Thorium may provide an answer.

Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive substance. Its use is almost exclusively limited to nuclear fuel. However, unlike uranium, it is not fissionable and has not been used as nuclear fuel up to now.

But it can be burned if plutonium is used to ignite it. After more than 40 years of using nuclear power, the world has a 2,000-ton stockpile of plutonium.

If thorium is used as a fuel for nuclear power generation, electricity can be supplied without discharging carbon dioxide. Another plus is that the method does not produce plutonium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons.

Thus, thorium has a potential to help in efforts to curb global warming and bring about a world without nuclear weapons at the same time."

See the whole article at the following URL

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201009010323.html