**Executive Summary**
This document summarises the response to Unstarred Question No. 1971 in the Lok Sabha, answered on February 11, 2026, regarding the deployment of Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life (ANEEL) fuel in India's nuclear power plants. It outlines the status of collaborations, benefits, and safeguards related to ANEEL and other nuclear fuel initiatives, and the progress towards achieving 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **ANEEL Fuel Deployment:**
* NTPC and CCTE are exploring ANEEL (Thorium-based fuel) deployment for PHWR reactors, pending government approval.
* **Current Fuel Strategy:**
* Natural Uranium Oxide fuel will continue to be used in the current fleet of PHWRs for efficient uranium resource utilization.
* India follows a closed fuel cycle, reprocessing spent fuel to recover valuable fissile material.
* **Nuclear Power Program:**
* India has a well-articulated 3-stage program for long-term energy security.
* The program utilizes Thorium and includes Fast Breeder Reactors to attain long term energy security.
* **International Collaboration and Regulation:**
* Nuclear energy collaborations will align with the SHANTI Act provisions.
* The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board provides regulatory oversight, reinforced by the SHANTI Act.
* **Private Sector Involvement:**
* Private sector participation is being facilitated to promote advanced technology partnerships, complying with the SHANTI Act.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: NTPC and CCTE**
* **Impact:** Exploring the development and deployment of ANEEL fuel, subject to government approval.
* **Action Required:** Proceed with exploration and development in accordance with national laws and regulations, and seek required approvals.
**Stakeholder: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board**
* **Impact:** Responsible for regulatory oversight of nuclear facilities.
* **Action Required:** Maintain a robust regulatory framework consistent with the SHANTI Act.
**Stakeholder: Indian Nuclear Energy Sector/Entities**
* **Impact:** Adherence to SHANTI Act.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with SHANTI Act provisions for collaborations.
Key Entities Referenced
Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life (ANEEL): A thorium-based fuel being explored for deployment in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) in India.
SHANTI Act: An act, referenced in the context of advanced technology partnerships in the nuclear energy sector, and regulatory framework of nuclear facilities.
Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme: India's strategy for achieving long-term energy security by utilizing Uranium and Thorium resources through a specific three-stage deployment.
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC): A company involved in collaboration for the evaluation and potential deployment of ANEEL fuel.
Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE): A company involved in collaboration for the evaluation and potential deployment of ANEEL fuel.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1971
ANSWERED ON 11/02/2026
DEPLOYMENT OF ANEEL
1971. DR. K SUDHAKAR
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-
(a) the current status of the collaboration between National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Limited and Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) regarding the evaluation and potential
deployment of Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life (ANEEL) fuel in country's
nuclear power plants;
(b) the details of anticipated technical and economic benefits of integrating ANEEL fuel into the
existing fleet of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), particularly in terms of fuel
efficiency and waste reduction;
(c) the manner in which this international collaboration complements the long-term objectives
of the Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme and the goal of achieving 100 GW of nuclear
capacity by 2047;
(d) the details of the institutional and regulatory safeguards in place to ensure that collaborations
with foreign entities remain consistent with national security and data protection protocols;
and
(e) the details of steps taken/being taken by the Government under the SHANTI Act, 2025 to
facilitate such advanced technology partnerships?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) As per joint press release by NTPC and CCTE, they are exploring development and
deployment of ANEEL, a Thorium based fuel for PHWR reactors, in India subject to approval
from respective governments in line with prevailing national laws.
(b) The natural Uranium Oxide based fuel will continue to be deployed in our current fleet of
PHWRs, representing an optimised and efficient utilisation of our limited Uranium resources
in a sustained manner through the 3-stage program. With regard to waste, India is following a
closed fuel cycle where the spent fuel is reprocessed to recover valuable fissile material for use
in our second stage of nuclear program.
(c) India has a well-articulated 3 stage program that allows optimal utilization of our limited
Uranium resources for attaining long term energy security through deployment of Thorium in
a self-sustaining 3rd stage supported by a second stage involving Fast Breeder Reactors.(d) All the collaborations in the field of nuclear energy will be consistent with the provisions of
the SHANTI Act. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has a robust framework of regulatory
oversight of nuclear facilities and has now been accorded statutory status with the passing of
the SHANTI Act.
(e) Allowing private sector participation and undertaking all the steps to facilitate such advanced
technology partnerships in line with the provisions of the SHANTI Act.
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