Address: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
Trombay, Mumbai-400 085
Telephone: 91 - 22 – 5505050, -5505010
Telex: 011 – 61017 / 5519613
Fax: 91 - 22 – 5505151, -5519613 
Email: webmaster@magnum.barc.ernet.in
Website: www.barc.ernet.in
Director of Reactor Group: Mr. S.K. Sharma
Subordinate to: Department of Atomic Energy
Primary Function: Research and design for the construction of thorium fueled Advanced Heavy Water Reactors

Description:
As an intermediate step towards India's utilization of a thorium-based closed fuel cycle, BARC is currently designing an Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR). BARC has completed the design of fuel, reactor components, and engineering designs of the major AHWR systems. Towards this goal, BARC has begun constructing a new critical assembly at Trombay for reactor physics experiments related to the AHWR. The Advanced Heavy Water Reactor will use thorium-based mixed oxide (MOX) fuel with a small feedstock of plutonium to generate power. Development of thorium-plutonium (Th-Pu) and thorium-uranium (Th-U233) mixed oxide fuels (MOX) was initiated in 2001. This research included the development of indigenous equipment for the production of thorium dioxide powder and trials with uranium dioxide. The design and development of an AHWR will provide research and development support for India's Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) program. This research will be particularly relevant for the future construction of 500MWe PHWRs.

Key Sources: Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), <http://www.barc.ernet.in>; DAE (Government of India), "Annual Report 2000-2001," Executive Summary available at <http://www.dae.gov.in/ar2001/execsum.htm>; DAE (Government of India), "Annual Report 2001-2002," Executive Summary available at <http://www.dae.gov.in/ar2002/ar2002.htm>.

	Updated September 2003