China achieved a breakthrough in nuclear technology by successfully converting thorium into uranium fuel inside a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR) for first time in history. The Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) confirmed that thorium-loaded molten salt produced valid experimental data, proving the feasibility of thorium-based nuclear energy.

Why This Breakthrough Matters

World’s First Validated Thorium Conversion in a TMSR

• Provides first concrete scientific evidence that thorium can be efficiently converted to fissile uranium-233 inside a molten-salt system.
• Establishes China as the global leader in thorium reactor technology.

Key Advantage for China

• China has massive thorium reserves (large quantities in mining waste alone).
• This development makes thorium a realistic long-term energy option for the country.

Global Importance

• Represents a major step in fourth-generation nuclear energy.
• Opens the path for cleaner, safer, more abundant nuclear power worldwide.

What Makes Molten-Salt Reactors (MSRs) Special?

China’s experiment uses a fourth-generation molten-salt reactor, which differs from traditional nuclear reactors in several ways.

Uses molten salt, not water

• Eliminates water-cooling limitations.
• Enables high operating temperatures.

Operates at atmospheric pressure

• Lower mechanical stress- enhanced safety.

Built-in passive safety

• If overheated, a frozen salt plug melts and stops the reaction automatically.

High-temperature output

• Enables:
  • Industrial heat applications
  • Hydrogen production
  • Integration with solar/wind
  • Production of synthetic fuels

Ideal for thorium

• MSRs can efficiently breed thorium into Uranium-233, which is needed for the thorium fuel cycle.

China’s TMSR Facility

• Initiated in 2011; now fully engineered with a domestic supply chain.
• Currently the only operational molten-salt reactor in the world being tested with thorium.

China’s Thorium Resource Potential

A newly declassified report indicates:

Enormous thorium in mining waste

• Just 5 years of mining waste at one iron ore site (Inner Mongolia)- Enough thorium to meet US household power needs for 1,000+ years

Bayan Obo Mining Complex

• Could yield appx. 1 million tonnes of thorium-  Enough to power China for 60,000 years (theoretical estimate)

China’s Future Plans

• Collaborate with major energy companies to scale technology.
• Build a 100-MW commercial demonstration molten-salt reactor by 2035.
• Integrate TMSRs with renewables and hydrogen for a low-carbon energy ecosystem.

Why Thorium is Considered Revolutionary

• 3 times more abundant than uranium
• Produces less long-lived radioactive waste
• Cannot be weaponised easily
• Safer fuel cycle

Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR): 

• Fourth-generation nuclear technology
• Uses molten fluoride salts as coolant + fuel carrier
• Key Features:
  • Passive safety
  • No high-pressure water
  • High thermal efficiency
  • Lower waste generation

Thorium Fuel Basics

• Thorium-232 is the natural form.
• Must be converted to Uranium-233 inside a reactor to become usable fuel.
• India, China, and Norway are among the leaders in thorium research.

India & Thorium

India’s Thorium Reserves

• India has the world’s largest thorium reserves.
• Found mainly in:
  • Kerala & Odisha – monazite-rich coastal sands
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Jharkhand
  • West Bengal

India’s Thorium Nuclear Programme

• India’s 3-stage Nuclear Programme (Homi Bhabha vision):
  
  1. PHWRs (natural uranium)
  2. Fast Breeder Reactors
  3. Thorium-based reactors

Key Indian Projects

• Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) – BARC
• Demonstrator for the thorium fuel cycle
• Indian Molten Salt Breeder Reactor (IMSBR) – under development

Fourth-Generation Nuclear Reactors (Globally)

• Include:
  • Molten-Salt Reactors (MSR)
  • Sodium Fast Reactors
  • Supercritical Water Reactors
  • Very High Temperature Reactors
  • Gas Fast Reactors
• Goal: safer, efficient, minimal-waste nuclear systems

Why This Breakthrough Is Important for the Energy Future

• Validates thorium as a viable long-term global fuel.
• Enables reactors with less waste, higher safety, and abundant fuel supply.
• Supports climate goals by reducing dependency on coal and fossil fuels.
• Supports integrated renewable–nuclear energy systems.