China Achieves Breakthrough with World-First Thorium Reactor

China has announced a significant advancement in nuclear technology, achieving a world-first conversion of thorium into uranium within a molten salt reactor. This breakthrough occurred in the Gobi Desert, where scientists from the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics successfully added fresh fuel to an operational experimental thorium reactor in April 2023. Six months later, researchers revealed that they managed to convert thorium-232 into uranium-233, demonstrating the feasibility of the thorium fuel cycle.

The implications of this achievement are substantial. Thorium is approximately three times more abundant in nature than uranium and lacks fissile isotopes, making it unsuitable for nuclear weapons. This positions thorium as a potentially safer and more sustainable alternative for nuclear energy production. According to estimates, China possesses vast thorium reserves, which could potentially power homes for thousands of years.

Dai Zhimin, the director of the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, emphasized the reactor’s advantages, stating, “As a fourth-generation nuclear power reactor type, molten salt reactors use high-temperature molten salt as a coolant. Endowed with inherent safety features, water-free cooling, low-pressure operation, and high-temperature output, they are internationally recognized as the most suitable reactor type for thorium resource utilization.”

The successful conversion process involves thorium-232 capturing neutrons to produce uranium-233, which then releases energy through nuclear fission, creating a self-sustaining cycle. This development positions China at the forefront of next-generation nuclear research, as it now operates the world’s only thorium molten salt reactor.

China’s plans extend beyond this initial success. The institute aims to complete the construction and demonstration operation of a 100-megawatt (MW) thermal prototype by 2035 and move towards commercial-scale applications. “This will accelerate technological innovation and engineering transformation, ultimately providing China with a safe, reliable, and domestically controlled thorium-based energy generation solution,” Dai added.

Additionally, the country is focusing on establishing a fully independent industrial supply chain for thorium molten salt reactor technologies. This initiative includes the domestic production of all critical components necessary for the reactor’s operation, which is a strategic move towards self-sufficiency in energy technology.

China’s thorium reserves are among the largest in the world. A 2016 resource estimate by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) highlighted China’s significant holdings. Despite the lack of international classification standards for thorium resources, a declassified Chinese survey revealed that the country may have enough thorium to meet energy demands for tens of thousands of years.

According to the South China Morning Post, a report published in the Chinese journal Geological Review noted that just five years of mining waste from a single iron ore site in Inner Mongolia could satisfy U.S. household energy demands for over 1,000 years. The Bayan Obo mining district is thought to contain around 1 million tons of thorium, sufficient to fuel China for an estimated 60,000 years.

While this breakthrough does not signify the end of challenges in nuclear energy development, it encourages further research and experimentation with thorium. The global energy landscape may witness a shift as countries explore safer and more sustainable alternatives to traditional nuclear power.