L&T and Clean Core Thorium Energy announce partnership in clean energy

Larsen & Toubro (L&T), India’s leading technology-powered conglomerate offering solutions in sectors of national importance and Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE), a US-based advanced nuclear fuel company, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on providing efficient solutions globally in clean energy through the CCTE’s patented ANEEL fuel (Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life).

The ANEEL fuel is made of thorium and enriched uranium developed for use in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) and Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) Reactors and Advanced Nuclear Reactors. Proliferation-resistant ANEEL fuel is expected to significantly reduce life-cycle operating costs and the waste produced (by over 85 per cent while improving safety due to its Accident Tolerant Fuel characteristics). Also, the ANEEL fuel will offer the added advantage of energy security by large-scale deployment of Thorium and reduce uranium consumption.  The ANEEL fuel will promote clean energy, non-proliferation, enhanced safety, decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries and circular economy.

At a signing ceremony held in Mumbai, L&T and CCTE jointly said that the mission of this partnership is to accelerate nuclear power deployment globally, particularly in developing countries which require large amounts of carbon-free electricity for their growth.

On the occasion, Anil Parab (Full-time director & Sr Executive Vice President, Heavy Engineering and L&T Valves) said, “In view of increasing demand for nuclear energy across the globe, we are in the process of identifying new opportunities to offer ‘One Stop Solutions’ to our customers. Establishing a world-class supply chain for ANEEL™ fuel, by leveraging L&T’s manufacturing prowess, is a step in that direction. L&T will support CCTE within the purview of the Indian legal framework.”

Mehul Shah, Founder and CEO of CCTE, said: “In partnering with a market leader like L&T with specialised expertise in engineering and manufacturing, we can realise our vision of sustainable clean and safe energy through the deployment of ANEEL™ fuel globally. This partnership will activate Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation signed back in 2008.”

Under a Strategic Partnership Project Agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE), CCTE’s ANEEL fuel is currently undergoing accelerated irradiation testing and qualification in the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Lab and is on its way to achieving planned burn-up targets of up to 60 GWd/T. Clean Core has also been actively partnering and engaging with key industry players including regulators, utilities and suppliers to achieve the successful commercialisation of the ANEEL fuel by 2026.