this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2025
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https://archive.is/2nQSh

It marks the first long-term, stable operation of the technology, putting China at the forefront of a global race to harness thorium – considered a safer and more abundant alternative to uranium – for nuclear power.

The experimental reactor, located in the Gobi Desert in China’s west, uses molten salt as the fuel carrier and coolant, and thorium – a radioactive element abundant in the Earth’s crust – as the fuel source. The reactor is reportedly designed to sustainably generate 2 megawatts of thermal power.

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[–] Vorticity@lemmy.world 104 points 1 month ago (18 children)

If true, this is a huge step! Congrats to China!

"Strategic stamina" is something that the US used to have but which has disappeared as the country just tries to catch its breath.

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 26 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (8 children)

If it's true, China has energy security for the foreseeable future - as Thorium is usually found along side rare earths, and China has the largest deposits of those. More than anywhere else in the world.

[–] Ledivin@lemmy.world -5 points 1 month ago (7 children)

I don't mean to be a pessimist, but we'll see how it lasts and scales 😅 it's certainly promising, but 2MW also isn't much. I'm curious how large they can scale single reactors, and how close they can safely be to populations - one of the problems with nuclear always ends up being transporting the energy (usually quite far away) once you've generated it.

[–] fullsquare@awful.systems 0 points 1 month ago

they haven't demonstrated anything yet, but maybe they will develop something. perhaps. maybe. it's all uncertain at this point and technology for it doesn't exist yet.

high voltage transmission lines are a thing, look up where lignite or hydro power plants are situated relative to where people live. this is a solved problem

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