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Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry has signed a deal with Denmark-based Copenhagen Atomics to advance the use of thorium in next-generation nuclear technologies, as the country seeks to put its vast reserves of the nuclear fuel material to use.
According to a statement, the ministry-affiliated Türkiye Energy, Nuclear and Mining Research Agency (TENMAK) inked the deal with the Danish company, which covers work on using thorium in next-generation nuclear technologies and aims to enable the domestic production of thorium compounds.
The cooperation also brings Turkish industrial and technology partners and researchers into efforts to develop higher-value nuclear technologies based on the country’s thorium resources.
One of the main areas of the partnership will be research and project development to produce thorium in Türkiye for next-generation reactors, including molten salt designs. The partners also aim to develop domestically produced thorium compounds that meet nuclear fuel standards and could help Türkiye become an international supplier.
Copenhagen Atomics is developing fourth-generation molten salt reactor technology that can use thorium in the nuclear fuel cycle. Its work centers on a modular design known as “Onion Core,” which the company will assess against Türkiye’s research infrastructure, workforce and industrial capabilities as part of the cooperation with TENMAK.
The agreement comes as Türkiye pursues several nuclear technologies, with Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar pointing to the rapid development of small modular reactors alongside large-scale plants.
"In small modular reactors, thorium fuel stands out in Copenhagen Atomics’ technology," Bayraktar said. He added that Türkiye’s large thorium resources give the cooperation particular importance because the technology could eliminate dependence on foreign fuel sources.
The minister expressed hope that the partnership will eventually lead to a commercial product, while noting that its focus on thorium sets it apart from other nuclear technology projects.
Türkiye ranks sixth globally in identified thorium resources, with 380,141 tons of 0.02% grade reserves in Eskisehir-Sivrihisar, according to official figures.
The reserves are expected to grow as new deposits are identified across the country, including 3.8 million tons of thorium-bearing material in Malatya-Kuluncak and 694 million tons of material in Eskisehir-Sivrihisar, with the deposits containing 2.032 and 788 parts per million of thorium compounds, respectively.
The thorium push comes as Türkiye steps up plans for small modular reactors (SMRs), as part of a broader expansion of nuclear power. In May, Bayraktar outlined Türkiye’s ambition to own, produce and potentially export SMR technology rather than simply import it.
He also announced plans to submit an SMR law to Parliament to establish a legal framework for the sector.
Türkiye targets 7.2 GW of nuclear capacity by 2035, with that figure rising to at least 20 GW by 2050 as large-scale plants in Akkuyu, Sinop and Thrace are joined by around 5 GW of small modular reactor capacity.
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