In a major breakthrough for nuclear energy, China has successfully operated the world’s first reactor capable of transmuting thorium into uranium to sustain nuclear fission. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the global pursuit of safe and sustainable atomic power.
The thorium-based molten salt reactor represents a fourth-generation nuclear system. Unlike traditional reactors, it uses thorium as fuel and a molten salt coolant, allowing it to operate without water, at atmospheric pressure, and produce high-temperature output.
This technological achievement is particularly strategic for China, which faces energy sustainability challenges due to its heavy reliance on imported uranium. By leveraging its abundant domestic reserves of thorium, the new reactor offers a potential path toward greater energy independence.
The technology is designed for deep integration with renewable energy sources and hydrogen production, positioning it as a cornerstone for a future multi-energy, low-carbon composite energy system.
The breakthrough was achieved by a team from the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics. The success stems from a 2-megawatt thermal (MWt) liquid-fueled reactor located in the Hongshagang industrial cluster in Wuwei city, Gansu province.
Through a collaborative national effort, the experimental reactor, which began construction in 2020, successfully accomplished the world’s first thorium loading in a molten salt reactor in 2024, turning a laboratory concept into an engineering reality.
Credit to : ShanghaiEye魔都眼