China Uncovers “Limitless” Energy Reserves Capable of Powering the Country for 60,000 Years

China may be on the brink of an energy revolution thanks to a newly revealed abundance of thorium, a radioactive metal that could fuel the nation for tens of thousands of years. The heart of this discovery lies in the Bayan Obo mining complex in Inner Mongolia, where a recent national survey uncovered reserves that may vastly exceed earlier estimates, offering a potential solution to the world’s growing energy demands.

A Radioactive Element With Unique Potential

Thorium is a silver-colored element found naturally in the earth’s crust, often as a byproduct of rare earth mining. Unlike uranium, which powers most of the world’s nuclear reactors, thorium cannot directly sustain a nuclear reaction because it is not fissile. However, thorium is classified as “fertile,” meaning it can be transformed into uranium-233, a fissile material, through neutron bombardment inside a molten-salt reactor (MSR).

In these advanced reactors, thorium is dissolved in a mixture of molten salts and heated to approximately 1,400 degrees Celsius. This process allows uranium-233 to form and undergo nuclear fission, releasing heat that can be converted into electricity. Molten-salt reactors promise several advantages, including reduced radioactive waste, enhanced safety by lowering meltdown risks, and a more compact design.

China’s Pioneering Role in Thorium Technology

China has taken significant steps to harness thorium’s potential. Last year, the government approved the construction of the world’s first thorium molten-salt reactor plant, located in the Gobi Desert. According to the Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute, the facility is expected to produce 10 megawatts of electricity and be operational by 2029. Chinese officials have described this project as a key step toward achieving energy independence.

The country’s investment in this technology comes amid a broader global competition in nuclear energy development. While the United States and Russia continue to maintain and upgrade their nuclear capabilities, China is aggressively expanding its civilian nuclear power infrastructure, planning to build 24 new nuclear power plants by 2030.

Uncovering the Scale of Thorium Reserves

According to The South China Post, the recent survey identified 233 thorium-rich zones scattered across China, from the inland region of Xinjiang to the coastal province of Guangdong. Notably, the Bayan Obo mining site in Inner Mongolia alone could yield about one million tonnes of thorium. Researchers highlighted that the thorium embedded in mining waste has been left untouched, despite its massive potential.

Senior engineer Fan Honghai, lead author of the study from the National Key Laboratory of Uranium Resource Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing in Beijing, noted that “these thorium resources in tailings remain totally untouched.” He and his colleagues estimate that five years of mining waste from an iron ore site in Inner Mongolia contains enough thorium to supply the entire United States’ household energy demands for more than a millennium.

Challenges and Strategic Ambitions

While the discovery raises hopes for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, thorium extraction and utilization present formidable challenges. The purification process requires large quantities of acid and energy, resulting in considerable wastewater production. Moreover, there are concerns about the potential misuse of thorium by-products, though experts maintain these materials are unsuitable for nuclear weapons.

China’s thorium ambitions extend beyond terrestrial power generation. The nation recently unveiled the KUN-24AP, the world’s first thorium-powered nuclear container ship design, underscoring its plans to leverage thorium in maritime propulsion. Furthermore, researchers are exploring the use of thorium reactors to support future lunar bases, signaling a broader role for thorium in space exploration and energy production.

The findings and developments underscore the complex and evolving landscape of nuclear energy, as China positions itself at the forefront of thorium research and application.