While Türkiye is among the countries with significant thorium potential in the world, a new step has been taken for the strategic resource that has been waiting underground for many years. With the agreement signed between TENMAK and Denmark-based Copenhagen Atomics, R&D studies will begin to utilize thorium resources in Türkiye in new generation nuclear reactors. According to official data, the 380 thousand 141 tons of reserves determined only in Eskişehir-Sivrihisar reach approximately 28.1 billion dollars in return for theoretical raw materials, while the real great added value is expected to emerge by having the technology to convert thorium into nuclear fuel.
RICH THORIUM RESOURCES
According to the data updated by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources on June 30, 2026, there are approximately 6.36 million tons of thorium resources in the world. As a result of the studies carried out in Türkiye in the past years, 380 thousand 141 tons of thorium reserves with a grade of 0.02 percent were determined in Eskişehir-Sivrihisar. In addition, 3.8 million tons of thorium resources were discovered by MTA in the Malatya-Kuluncuk field in 2020. A complex resource of 694 million tons containing an average of 788 ppm ThO₂ was detected by Eti Maden in Eskişehir Beylikova-Sivrihisar.
THERE ARE OTHER RESERVES TOO
Experts also state that Türkiye’s thorium potential is not limited to Eskişehir and Malatya. According to the Ministry’s data Thorium deposits have also been detected in Malatya-Hekimhan-Kuluncak, Kayseri-Felahiye, Sivas, Diyarbakır and Burdur-Çanaklı fields. It is estimated that Türkiye’s known amount of thorium may increase if more detailed exploration is carried out in these regions.
VALUE IS 28 BILLION DOLLARS
While it is stated that thorium is traded at 74 dollars per kilogram, only Eskişehir-It is calculated that the 380 thousand 141 tons of reserves in Sivrihisar correspond to a gross raw material value of approximately 28.1 billion dollars. However, it is noted that the economic value of thorium is not limited only to the reserve amount and raw material price. Extraction of the ore, separation, purification and making it compatible with nuclear fuel standards are among the stages where added value will be created for Türkiye.
IMPORTANCE OF ESKİŞEHİR
Another area that stands out in Türkiye’s thorium potential is the Eskişehir Beylikova-Sivrihisar region. However, the 694 million tons figure determined here does not consist entirely of thorium. The size in question refers to the amount of complex ore containing minerals such as rare earth elements, barite and fluorite, as well as thorium. The theoretical calculation based on the average 788 ppm ThO₂ grade in the field indicates that approximately 547 thousand tons of ThO₂ may be present in the ore. Experts, on the other hand, draw attention to the mathematical magnitude of over 40 billion dollars in total in their calculations.
IT CAN BE A NUCLEAR FUEL
Geostrategy Expert and Researcher Ahmet Uslu says that if thorium can be processed at nuclear fuel standards, it will create a much wider economic chain from mine production to fuel technology, from reactor engineering to electricity production. Dr. Uslu says, “It is possible that the real added value that Türkiye can obtain from thorium will be much higher than today’s theoretical raw material equivalent of tens of billions of dollars. The realization of this depends on the technology becoming operational on a commercial scale. The real economic potential will emerge if thorium is included in the nuclear fuel cycle rather than being sold as a mine.”
WHAT DOES THE AGREEMENT COVER?
With the agreement signed between TENMAK and Denmark-based Copenhagen Atomics, It is planned to process thorium at nuclear fuel standards, involve domestic industry and research institutions in the process, and carry out R&D studies on molten salt reactors. In the long term, the aim is to commercialize thorium compounds and make Türkiye an international supplier in this field. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar also points out that thorium is a strategic option that can reduce foreign dependency on nuclear fuel.
IT CAME TO THE AGENDA WITH AN ACCIDENT
On the other hand, the Thorium issue was widely discussed in Türkiye after the Atlasjet plane crash in 2007. On the Atlasjet plane that crashed in Isparta on November 30, 2007, Boğaziçi University Physics Department faculty member Prof. Dr. Scientists, including Engin Arık, lost their lives. Arık had worked for many years to ensure that Türkiye’s thorium resources could be used in energy production, focusing on the conversion of thorium to uranium-233 and the use of accelerator technologies.
