A SCIENTIFIC movement to promote thorium as a nuclear fuel, due to its abundance and improved safety, is developing around the world and Australia could lead the way.

The Sydney scientist Reza Hashemi-Nezhad has argued for more than a decade for the benefits of thorium when used in an accelerator-driven nuclear reactor that operates at subcritical conditions.

"You cannot have an accident similar to Chenobyl. It does not produce weapon-grade materials. And the nuclear waste is much less toxic..." ... scientist Dr. Reza Hashemi- Nezhad. Credit:Lisa Wiltse

''You cannot have an accident similar to Chernobyl,'' Dr Hashemi-Nezhad, the director of the Institute of Nuclear Science at the University of Sydney, said. ''It does not produce weapon-grade materials. And the nuclear waste is much less toxic than from a standard reactor.''

With the world's largest reserves of the radioactive mineral, Australia could be a leader in developing and adopting the technology.