3 Things India's nuclear plans advance, oil prices to stay high, and state polls begin
Apr 9, 2026
Anil Sasi, National Business Editor at The Indian Express, explains the Fast Breeder Reactor milestone and how it fits India’s three-stage nuclear plan. Sukalp Sharma, Energy reporter at The Indian Express, breaks down why oil markets stay tense despite a ceasefire and how Strait of Hormuz risks affect India’s fuel supplies. They also touch on the opening round of state polls in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Thorium Reserves Offset Uranium Dependence
- India imports uranium from Kazakhstan, Canada and Russia but relies on thorium domestically found in beach sands for long-term energy security.
- The three-stage program was designed to reduce dependence on external uranium supplies and exploit large thorium reserves like Kerala's monazite sands.
Global Breeder Programs Faced Technical Limits
- Breeder reactor development faced technical hurdles, especially sodium coolant issues and safety incidents in other countries, limiting global adoption.
- Only Russia runs a large breeder; China has a small demonstration, so India's push is driven by resource constraints and past sanctions.
Vet New Reactors Through Robust Safety Regulation
- Prioritize rigorous safety oversight and learnings from past accidents when scaling nuclear breeder programs.
- The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board vetted the Kalpakkam design, and decades of PHWR operation inform safety calibrations.