The core of the collaboration focuses on the research, development, and project design for producing thorium compounds that meet strict nuclear fuel standards. Specifically, the partnership targets the development of materials for molten salt reactors, a fourth-generation reactor technology that utilizes liquid salts to carry nuclear fuel and transfer heat. Copenhagen Atomics is currently developing a modular reactor concept known as the “Onion Core,” which is designed to accommodate thorium within the nuclear fuel cycle. Under the MOU, the two parties will assess how Turkish research facilities, scientific personnel, and industrial companies can contribute to the adaptation and deployment of this technology.
Turkey’s interest in thorium is driven by the country’s significant geological endowment. Official figures place Turkey among the top six nations globally in terms of identified thorium resources, with primary reserves estimated at approximately 380,141 tonnes of thorium oxide (ThO₂) at an average grade of 0.02% in the Eskişehir-Sivrihisar region. Additional deposits have been identified in other parts of the country, including 3.8 million tonnes of low-grade thorium-bearing material at Malatya-Kuluncak and a wider complex ore field in Eskişehir containing 694 million tonnes of material. A verified secondary deposit has also been identified in Burdur, where thorium occurs alongside heavy rare earth mineralizations. Because these thorium deposits are naturally embedded in complex minerals alongside rare earth elements, fluorite, and barite, commercial mining plans focus on extracting thorium as a by-product rather than through independent mining operations.
Technical Challenges and Strategic Goals
While the resource potential is substantial, the technical pathway remains complex. Thorium does not sustain a nuclear chain reaction in its natural state; it must be converted into uranium-233 inside a reactor to generate energy. This process requires an initial supply of other nuclear fuel to start the cycle. Consequently, the initial test reactors planned by Copenhagen Atomics for 2028, and the initial commercial reactors targeted for the 2030s, are expected to use enriched uranium alongside thorium. These timelines represent the company’s broader development targets rather than a fixed schedule for the Turkish partnership. The International Atomic Energy Agency notes that developing and processing thorium fuel remains costly and technically demanding, representing a significant engineering hurdle that the MOU aims to address through joint research.
For Turkey, the strategic implication of this partnership is the potential to eliminate dependence on foreign nuclear fuel sources. Minister Bayraktar described small modular reactors as “the new era of nuclear energy” and emphasized that thorium fuel stands out within Copenhagen Atomics’ technology portfolio. The ministry’s broader nuclear strategy includes pursuing large-scale plants and aiming for 5 GWe of small modular reactor capacity by 2050, a goal intended to diversify the electricity supply and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.
The agreement also seeks to integrate Turkish industrial and technology companies into the value chain, with the long-term aim of establishing Turkey as an internationally competitive supplier of thorium-based nuclear materials. However, the MOU does not specify an investment amount or a definitive timetable for commercial production. The next phase of the cooperation will involve a detailed assessment of Turkey’s current industrial capabilities and scientific workforce to determine the feasibility of producing nuclear-grade compounds domestically. As the project moves from diplomatic signing to technical evaluation, the focus will remain on navigating the intricate requirements of nuclear fuel processing and the long lead times associated with bringing fourth-generation reactor technology to market.
