A/Prof. Reza Hashemi-Nezhad
School of Physics, University of Sydney

Wednesday, 26 October 2011, 8 PM
Stanley Burbury Theatre
Sandy Bay Campus, University of Tasmania

ABSTRACT:
The massive use of fossil fuels is leading to greenhouse induced global warming with
a high probability of major damage to the global environment and the world
economy. There is an urgent need for new ways of electric power production free of
greenhouse gases. At present nuclear energy is the only established option for base
load power generation without carbon dioxide emission. However, use of uranium
fuel in nuclear power plants is controversial and suffers from many disadvantages.
A thorium burning Accelerator Driven Subcritical Nuclear Reactor (ADSNR) avoids
many of these problems. The reactors cannot melt-down, there is minimal
production of long lived waste, diversion to military use is very difficult, reserves of
thorium are almost inexhausible and costs are expected to be lower than for uranium
fuelled reactors. Additionally it can also be used as a radioactive waste incinerator.
If an ADSNR is fuelled with fissile material, bred from abundant natural thorium it
can provide the world with an almost unlimited amount of clean and cheap energy.
The known thorium reserves of Australia are 300,000 tonnes. If this thorium is used as
nuclear fuel it can provide Australia’s electricity needs for about 10,000 years at
today’s consumption rate.

Download Flyer:
Reza-October26c.pdf